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Harlingen board authorizes pursuit of park grant matches, approves pool and park repairs and pledges $500,000 toward Casa del Sol study
Summary
The board directed staff to pursue roughly $5 million in grant awards that require about $2 million in local match, approved a package of park and pool repairs and authorized $500,000 toward historic Casa del Sol planning and preservation work rather than the full $2 million request.
The Harlingen Community Improvement Board instructed city staff to begin the funding process for a slate of park improvement projects and approved a package of repairs and purchases, including pool repairs and parks maintenance. The board also authorized $500,000 to begin restoration planning and preservation work at Casa del Sol instead of the $2,000,000 match the city requested.
City staff told the board the city had received approximately $5,000,000 in grant awards for several park projects but that the grants require a local match. Staff said the projected combined match needed for the awards is about $2,000,000; if the board commits the match, the city would receive about $7,000,000 in project funding (grant plus local match) for the listed park projects.
Parks Director Danny (Daniel) Diaz and staff presented the list of grant-funded projects and additional one-time purchases and maintenance needs. Projects and items presented included: trail work for the Arroyo/hike-and-bike corridor; tree-planting and shade for trails; Pendleton Park improvements including a potential recreation center site; Victor Park electrical upgrades and lighting; new splash pads, courts and shaded structures at several parks; camera installations to deter vandalism; signage upgrades at McKelvey, Windsor and Gutierrez parks; pool repairs and replacement of diving boards and ADA lifts; and small pocket-park projects (a Stewart Place pocket park near the fire station was shown as a planned site). Staff said some projects will require design and outside contracting while other items (for example tree plantings) can be done in-house.
Staff also described a separate application to the Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation and other funding avenues for some projects. The presentation referenced state and federal funding programs and historic-preservation tax-credit programs as possible revenue sources for a renovation of Casa del Sol.
Board members debated priorities and timing. Several members said securing the $5 million in grant funds by providing the local match was their top priority. The board expressed strong support for pool repairs and neighborhood pocket parks. Some members said they were concerned about fully funding Casa del Sol immediately without more design and cost detail; after discussion the board directed staff to seek authorization to pursue the full slate of grants and projects and voted to approve the park-and-pool package and a $500,000 allocation for Casa del Sol planning and initial work.
A board member moved to approve the parks/grant/pool package and the $500,000 for Casa del Sol; a second was called and the board voted unanimously, aye, to approve the motion. City staff said the board's approval authorizes staff to begin the public-notice and hearing process required for spending 4B funds and to return to the board and to the city commission with specific budget amendments and final contract awards as required by city policy.
The board's action was an authorization to proceed with the funding process; any actual disbursement of funds will follow public notices, required hearings (60-day publication period), design work, bids and formal appropriation by the commission and/or board as required.
