County board committee approves amending recreation plan to pursue $300,000 courts grant and $50,000 trails grant; agrees to seek family approval for ‘Marty Bre

The Executive and Finance Team voted May 1 to forward amendments to Richland County’s 2023 Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan and to approve pursuing two grants and a trail-naming request for the former UW campus property.

Mr. Hardy, who presented the items on behalf of the parks/recreation advisory group, said the editorial board recommends adding court and trail projects to the county’s recreation plan so the county can apply for two state-managed grants. The first is a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant (50/50 match) for renovating tennis and basketball courts; Hardy said the project estimate is about $300,000, which would require roughly $150,000 in matching funds and, if awarded, would be for a 2026 project with work to be completed by the end of 2028. Hardy said the courts were originally funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund in 1981 and therefore remain subject to historic grant requirements for maintenance and public access.

The second grant is a Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant with an 80/20 match proposed for a roughly $50,000 project to add wayfinding and interpretive signage and benches; Hardy said the RTP grant would cover about $40,000 and the county’s required match about $10,000, and that the Richland County Foundation has already pledged $3,000 toward the trails match. Hardy emphasized the grants would rely on donations for the local matches and not on county tax-levy dollars.

Committee members asked about cost estimates and timelines. Hardy said estimates were produced by consulting with planners and past project costs for sign design, manufacture and installation and that no trail construction beyond signs and benches is planned; the project is intended to preserve public access and improve safety and education along existing grass trails. The committee approved forwarding the plan amendment and grant-application authorizations to the full county board by voice vote.

Hardy also presented a request from the advisory board to name the former campus trails after Marty Brewer. Committee members asked that staff check with Brewer’s family before final submission; the committee voted to forward the naming request to the full county board contingent on family approval.

Why it matters: If awarded, the grants would fund repairs and accessibility improvements to public recreation facilities on county-owned campus land. The county would be responsible for meeting grant compliance and completing any required matching fundraising.

No tax levy was approved at the meeting; all presenters said they would pursue grants and donations for project matches.