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Parks board recommends applying for 2025 LPRF grant; staff cites $3.38 million state award for bike pump track
Summary
Parks staff asked the board to recommend applying for a 2025 LPRF grant to fund deferred maintenance and new facilities; staff said the state Office of Outdoor Recreation indicated $3,380,000 for a bike pump track at Heritage Park and the administration plans to use sales-tax funds and possibly land value as a local match.
Parks staff asked the Parks Board on Dec. 16 to recommend that the city apply for a 2025 Local Parks & Recreation Fund (LPRF) grant to fund deferred maintenance and facility upgrades, including a proposed bike pump track at Heritage Park.
"We would ask that you all consider approving the staff's recommendation for 2025 meeting dates and recommend that we apply," Parks staff member Mister Gilley said while describing the grant process and possible local match. He told the board the city could use sales-tax funds as the match and potentially offer land value as part of the package.
The department later reported that the state Office of Outdoor Recreation provided ceremonial 'checks' totaling $3,380,000 for the bike pump track project at Heritage Park. "A press release will go out at some point from the state that we'll share to all our pages," Mister Kelly said when noting the display of the checks in the parks office.
Staff emphasized that the board was only being asked to recommend applying; no appropriation or contract was approved at the meeting. The board approved the recommendation to apply by voice vote.
City staff said a final contract with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) was expected in coming months, with a contract likely to be routed to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA) for approval by February. Staff also noted a separate federal bike pump track grant process that may take four to six months to reach contract stage.
Why it matters: If awarded and executed, the grant would provide capital funding to address deferred maintenance and add new park facilities. Staff said prior LPRF awards supported projects such as the turf soccer field at Drakes Creek Park and rugby lighting installations.
Next steps: Staff will work with the mayor and chief operating officer on the application and local-match options and expects to present any final contract to BOMA for approval when negotiations with TDEC conclude.
