City invited to submit full NRDA grant applications for Bissell and Solway parks; July deadline and 20% match required

City staff told council the Department of Energy trustees and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) invited Oak Ridge to submit full Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) grant applications for two park projects: A.K. Bissell Park and Solway Park.

What staff said: The city applied for approximately $8 million across the two projects during the NRDA pre-application phase; staff said an invitation to submit a full application indicates the trustees expect to fund the projects if the city meets the grant requirements. The grant program requires a 20% local match and a full, detailed application that refines project timelines, budgets and specifications. Staff said the grant funds are administered by TDEC, the trustees include a mix of federal and state entities (DOE, TVA, Department of the Interior and TDEC), and the funds awarded are drawn from amounts previously set aside by DOE for NRDA purposes.

Next steps and schedule: City staff said it has until July 15 to submit the full applications and will schedule a meeting with the trustee group before May to review the detailed submissions. Staff will engage on-call architects selected through a recent RFQ (two firms named internally) to prepare the design details required for the application; council will receive a presentation and professional services agreements for the architects on May 12 as part of the procurement approvals. Staff noted the city has some matching funds identified and will pursue additional grants to cover the 20% match if possible; city staff characterized the invitation as a strong position in the competitive process but said applicants must meet all requirements for final award.

Why it matters: NRDA funding can cover substantial restoration and public-access projects along waterways and is a substantial opportunity to fund park improvements the city sought to advance.