Council holds public hearing, approves application for Madison County CDBG funding for Glidden Park inclusive playground

Parks Director Kimberly Korn presented a public hearing on Feb. 10 required for a Madison County Community Development Block Grant application to finish an all-abilities playground at Glidden Park and to seek up to $100,000 toward surfacing and installation. "The estimated total project, remaining cost is $300,000," Korn said, and she told the council the CDBG application could provide up to $100,000 toward that remaining balance.

Korn explained the park block qualifies as a low-to-moderate income area under the grant rules and that matching funds would come from donations and the hospitality fund in the city’s capital improvement program. Council members asked whether the city had applied previously; Korn said the city had applied for different CDBG-funded projects through other departments in the past but not for this park project. After no public testimony, a motion to close the hearing carried on roll call.

Later in the meeting the council approved a resolution authorizing submission of the CDBG application. Korn said, "This application ... will give us an opportunity at up to a $100,000, which is a nice big chunk of that remaining balance," and staff noted the project is identified in the CIP. The council approved the resolution on roll call, enabling staff to submit the grant application and proceed with environmental review and next steps if the grant is awarded.

The project scope described to the council includes playground equipment and safety surfacing to complete the first fully inclusive playground in the community. Korn said staff would coordinate required environmental reviews and return with updates as the application progresses.