Advisory committee reviews Riverview Park projects, boat-ramp dredging and $50,000 FRDAP grant applications

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee on Aug. 25 received staff updates on multiple park projects, federal and state grant activity, and scheduled upcoming events at Riverview Park.

Blankenship, a city staff member, said the city was awarded a Florida Boater Improvement Program (FBIP) grant for dredging the Main Street boat ramp and that an application with FIND is pending. He told the committee the dredging permits had not yet been issued and that the St. Johns authority requested design modifications because of seagrass in the project area.

"We've had to modify the the design just a little, you know, make it a little bit different. But, we have not received the app the, permits yet," Blankenship said.

Blankenship described the swinging-bench project at Riverview Park: the upland work (a sidewalk with swings and benches) will go to bid now that the permit for the shoreline stabilization piece has been received. He provided a cost range for that work, saying conservatively it would be between $400,000 and $500,000 depending on how far shoreline work is allowed. He added the city expects further grant awards in September that would help fund the work.

The committee heard that two urban-forestry grants were awarded: one to fund a tree-canopy survey (staff expects to solicit bids in October) covering public property including parks, and a second $15,000 award to remove exotic species, likely at Filbert Street Park.

Blankenship also said staff planned to submit two Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program (FRDAP) grant applications before the Sept. 30 deadline: two nonmatching $50,000 requests for Hardy Park and Garden Club Park. If awarded, the Garden Club Park project would be scheduled for fiscal 2026. Blankenship described the FRDAP grants as "$50,000 non matching grants that, the deadline for, application is September 30."

Committee members provided park reports: routine maintenance notes, wildlife observations (wild hog damage at Stormwater Park, turtle activity at Filbert), and suggestions for visibility improvements and signage at Bryant Park and George Street.

The committee also reviewed upcoming programming at Riverview Park, including a "Touch and Tour" on Sept. 13 and a Kids Fest on Oct. 4; staff said the museum and local groups would participate.

Votes at a glance: - Approval of July 22 minutes: motion made and seconded; chair recorded unanimous "Aye" votes and approved the minutes as written (tally not specified in transcript). - Motion to change the September meeting date from Sept. 22 to Sept. 29: motion made and seconded (Mister Halloran and Miss White are recorded as seconders); committee voted "Aye" and the motion passed (tally not specified in transcript).

Ending: Staff will prepare bid packages and continue to pursue grant funding and permits; the committee expects further updates at the rescheduled September meeting.