Brainerd approves resolutions to pursue grants for Lund Park pedestrian bridge and Oak Street reconstruction

Brainerd City’s Safety & Public Works council on Dec. 16 approved four separate resolutions authorizing staff to apply for grants tied to the Lund Park Pedestrian Bridge and Oak Street reconstruction.

Public Works staff described three grant programs tied to the Lund Park bridge: a Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) request for $1,000,000, an Active Transportation (AT) request for $1,000,000, and a Transportation Alternatives (TA) request for $800,000. Staff and transportation personnel explained that the CRP and TA grants carry an 80/20 federal match requirement (meaning a roughly 20 percent local share if awarded) while the AT program is state funded and does not require the federal match. The Oak Street request was presented as a $1,250,000 transportation block grant request; staff noted the project’s total cost would exceed the grant amount and that a local match would be required if a grant is awarded.

Council members asked staff to clarify local-match percentages and how the city would fund any required local share; staff estimated local match obligations if all three Lund Park grants and the Oak Street grant were awarded would require the city to pay materially more than the grant amounts—council discussion referenced roughly $600,000 in combined local commitments as an approximate estimate during the meeting. The council unanimously approved the resolutions by voice vote.

Staff said they are seeking the council’s formal approval so staff can submit the grant applications on the city’s behalf. Next steps include application submission and, if awarded, subsequent budgeting of local-match funds through future budget cycles.