CDC staff: $750,000 TPWD grant awarded for Trotter Park; applications submitted for large trail grants and bond election could fund parks

The Flower Mound Community Development Corporation heard updates on grant awards and funding prospects at its Jan. 30, 2025 meeting.

Chuck Jennings, director of parks and recreation services for the town, told the CDC that the town had been notified it received a $750,000 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department grant for Trotter Park; that award requires a 50% local match.

Jennings said the town also submitted an application to the North Central Texas Council of Governments for the Transportation Alternatives Grant Program, which staff described in the meeting as an 80/20 match program that can fund projects from roughly $3 million to $10 million. He said staff is also evaluating a separate TxDOT transportation alternatives program that awards between about $5 million and $25 million and carries an 80/20 match; that program’s preliminary application is due in late February.

John Zugerski, the town’s chief financial officer, reviewed the CDC’s fund balances and broader revenue trends. He said the CDC began the fiscal year with roughly $9.5 million in fund balance and that estimated ending balances are about $10 million. He reported overall revenues were about 3% higher than the prior year primarily because of interest earnings, while sales-tax receipts were about 3% below expectations. Zugerski said the corporation budgeted roughly $15 million for expenditures in the prior period and spent about $4.5 million to date; capital projects often span multiple years and funding rolls forward across fiscal years.

Zugerski noted the town faces long-term constraints because property-tax growth is limited to 3.5% under state law (Senate Bill 2, 2019), a factor he said will increase reliance on sales-tax and other funding mechanisms for parks and recreation projects. He described the May bond election under consideration by the town—if called by council—as a possible source of long-term funding, with staff materials showing $82 million of $112 million proposed for parks and recreation projects; staff said the Blue Ribbon Bond Committee has recommended a slate of projects and council may vote to call a bond election soon.

Why it matters: The TPWD award and large regional grant programs could supply major capital funding for trail and park projects, but they require substantial local matches and competitive applications. The bond question, if placed on a May ballot, would be a public decision about financing a multi-year parks capital program.

What the CDC asked: Directors asked for comparative benchmarks on park spending per capita and how Flower Mound’s funding compares to other communities; staff said apples‑to‑apples comparisons are difficult but that the town maintains performance metrics (acres per 1,000 residents, etc.) and will provide those comparators when possible. Directors also asked about private sponsorships and developer contributions; staff said the town pursues grants and partnerships and enforces parkland-dedication requirements tied to development where applicable.

Staff said next steps will include continuing design work for grant-funded projects, further application steps for transportation grants, and awaiting council action on whether to call a bond election.