Bluff council authorizes pursuit of Utah playground grant for community center; committee to expand

The Bluff Town Council on Jan. 28 authorized playground committee volunteer Sarah Burack to pursue a Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation Community Parks and Recreation (CPR) grant for improvements at the Bluff Community Center and to add members to the playground committee.

Burack told the council the CPR grant awards range from $5,000 to $200,000 per project, with $2,000,000 available statewide this round. She said the grant requires a 20% match (set by San Juan County), which may be split 50% cash and 50% in-kind; she said the match for a $200,000 request would be $40,000, of which $20,000 would need to be cash and $20,000 could be in-kind. Burack said the application deadline is March 17 and that most awards are distributed in late May or early June; successful projects typically have two years to spend awarded funds.

Burack described a phased proposal. For the Bluff Community Center she said Phase 1 could include a larger multi-age playground, an expanded swing bank, and a half court or pickleball court plus walking-path sections; Phase 2 could add a sports field (softball or soccer), parking, and bleachers. Burack said utilities and site work items such as irrigation, benches, restrooms, and kiosks are eligible costs.

Key details Burack shared in the meeting (verbatim): “The awarding amount is anywhere from 5,000 to, $200,000 for the project. And they have $2,000,000 to award, and they do expect it to be a fairly competitive grant.” On matching funds she said, “That match can be done, 50% as cash and then 50% as in kind donations.” She also noted the deadline: “The due date for the grant is March 17, which is why I appreciate you guys allowing me to be on today's agenda.”

Town manager Aaron told council members the town previously approved capital-project funding that could include playground work; he said he will locate the specific budgeted amount for the council to consider as a potential cash match.

Council discussion favored focusing a single application on the Bluff Community Center rather than submitting two competing applications for both the Bluff Community Center and the Cooperative Cultural Center (CCC). Council members discussed site layout options, suggesting the town could prioritize a playground and a pickleball or half-court surface in a phased build. One council member recommended keeping any still-functional existing playground equipment while adding new structures.

Motion and vote: the council moved to authorize Sarah Burack to pursue the CPR grant for the community center and to broaden the playground committee; the motion was seconded and passed by unanimous voice vote. The meeting record does not show a roll-call tally.

Next steps identified in the meeting: Burack and the playground committee will refine a project plan and target dollar request between now and the March 17 application deadline; Aaron will report back on available capital-project funds to inform the cash-match decision.