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Council backs pursuing $8M-eligible SPP grant to revitalize Kanabi–Veterans park area
Summary
City staff told council they will pursue a State Parks Program (SPP) grant to expand and renovate Kanabi through Veterans Park (including Old Bens Park and the Elbow). Staff said the grant process opens in June and the city could ask for up to $8 million, though they expect a lower ask; council approved moving forward with community outreach and the grant application process.
City staff proposed pursuing the Office of Grants and Local Services's State Park Project (SPP) Round 5 funding to expand and renovate parkland linking Kanabi Park and Veterans Park.
The assistant city manager (speaking on the proposal) told council "the SPP grant ... is releasing $188,500,000 for the State Park development and community revitalization program" and explained the city's rationale for selecting sites the city already owns to meet acquisition requirements. Staff described a plan for five community outreach sessions and on-site meetings with veterans and tribal leaders to collect input before finalizing a shovel-ready application.
On potential project size and funding request, staff said the grant allows applications up to $8,000,000 but indicated they "don't think it's going to be more than $2,000,000" and prefer to err on the high side for scoping. Council and staff discussed timeline: staff expect the grant round to open in June (with a possible later release by August) and said successful proposals are more competitive when shovel-ready; the city would have up to two years to complete projects if funded.
Council expressed support for outreach and for moving forward with an application. Staff said Townsend Public Affairs and Aliana Gonzalez (grant liaison) would assist with the application. The council did not make a funding commitment at this meeting — staff sought direction to pursue outreach and prepare a formal application when the SPP round opens.
If the grant is awarded, staff said the plan would focus on rearranging existing park features, improving passive-recreation spaces and honoring Veterans Park with a more reverent design.
