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Council authorizes application for National Park Service ORLP grant to improve Missouri Park
Summary
Council approved the city’s application for an Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) grant from the National Park Service to fund multi-feature improvements at Missouri Park following extensive community engagement; the application deadline is one week from the meeting date.
The City Council on March 4 authorized the city to apply for the National Park Service’s Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) grant to renovate Missouri Park with new recreation features, environmental-design elements and community-driven amenities.
Special projects manager Denise Garcia said staff began outreach after a Feb. 13 webinar and conducted substantial community engagement, including a large meeting at Missouri Park attended by residents, schoolchildren and community partners. Garcia said the ORLP program requires an eligible park and at least four new recreation features (active or passive), environmental-design elements (stormwater/infiltration, water-efficient irrigation or tree planting), and demonstration of three or more community partners and three public meetings.
Garcia summarized community feedback: strong support for walking trails, shade structures, pickleball courts, batting cages, an accessible playground (for special-education needs), dog areas, barbecue/picnic features and improved lighting. She said the existing toddler “tot lot” does not meet accessibility needs and the community requested accessible play features. Garcia noted the application is competitive, that the park must meet state and federal scoring criteria (including the California SCORP guidance), and that the state-level selection proceeds to a national phase for successful applicants.
Council discussed match requirements and funding; Garcia said the project could be structured as a 50/50 match for a hypothetical $1 million total project—meaning roughly $500,000 in local match would be required if the city scored a full $1 million award. Garcia said the city had limited time—the application deadline is one week from the meeting—and staff had already completed broad outreach and design input and would continue refining the application.
Council approved the resolution authorizing the application; Garcia said she would continue partner outreach and finalize the application materials for the state-level submission.
