community building grants
15 Dallas-area parks win $10.65 million from Texas Parks and Wildlife
Settlers Park in Grapevine received a $750,000 grant to continue developing a pavilion, a boardwalk, and other site amenities.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission has awarded more than $30.9 million in park grants statewide, with $10.65 million earmarked for local parks and community areas in North Texas.
The grants – which will be awarded to each park's local government – will be used to help develop, renovate, and otherwise improve recreational opportunities for local parks. Funds are awarded on a 50-50 reimbursement match basis, according to a press release.
"Once funded, the sites must remain parkland in perpetuity, properly maintained and open to the public," the release says.
Three different grants were awarded to to 50 Texas community parks based on population: An urban outdoor recreation grant for cities with populations more than 500,000; a non-urban outdoor recreation grant for cities with populations under 500,000; and a small community recreation grant for towns with populations fewer than 20,000.
In all, 15 grants were awarded in North Texas, and four were located in the Dallas area.
The list of Dallas-area parks, funds, and uses for the grants are listed below:
- Hooten Park in Caddo Mills – $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for phase two development of a shaded inclusive playground with poured-in-place surfacing, pavilion, site amenities, trails, irrigated sports fields, and signage.
- Marcus Recreation Center in Dallas – $1 million urban outdoor grant for renovations.
- Trotter Park in Flower Mound – $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for the development of sports courts, an inclusive playground, trails, native landscaping, picnic facilities, pavilion, shade, and signage.
- Settlers Park in Grapevine – $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for phase two development of a boardwalk/pier, kayak launch, outdoor education/primitive camping area, pavilion, expansions of an existing trail and fishing pier, trail lighting, native landscaping, signage, and site amenities.
Fort Worth-area parks, funds, and uses for the grants are listed below:
- Kirtley Park in Cleburne – $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for a nature playground and surfacing, trails, native landscaping, shade installation, fencing, site amenities, and restrooms.
- Lily Cantú Playground in Denton – $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for inclusive playground equipment, surfacing, and native landscaping.
- New Fairview City Park in Fairview – $150,000 small community grant for phase two of development of a multipurpose field, bleachers, multi-sport court, playground equipment, site amenities, solar lighting, exercise equipment, and native landscaping.
- Fort Worth Zoo – $2 million urban indoor grant for renovations of the Hall of Wonders building.
- Oak Grove Park in Fort Worth – $1.5 million urban outdoor grant for park improvements such as sports courts, shaded playground equipment, pavilions, native plantings, trails, and site amenities.
- Lambert Branch Park in Granbury – $150,000 small community grant for trails, an access ramp to an existing boat dock and fishing pier, accessible parking, picnic facilities, solar lighting, and site amenities.
- McGratton Park in Weatherford – $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for renovations and development of an existing skate park, playground equipment, resurfacing of sports courts, shade installation, a new restroom facility, signage, site amenities, native landscaping, and irrigation.
- Springtown Park in Springtown – $300,000 non-urban outdoor grant for renovations and development of an inclusive playground with pour-in-place surfacing and shade, trails, a cornhole game area, putting green, fitness equipment, interpretive signage, and site amenities.
Other greater North Texas parks that were awarded grants include:
- Mowery Park in Blue Ridge – $150,000 small community grant for the new construction of a parking lot, trail and lighting.
- Harmon Park in Cooper – $150,000 small community grant for the playground and surfacing, additional playground equipment, accessible parking and paths, native landscaping, and interpretive signage.
- Lake Ralph Hall in Ladonia – $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for phase one development of an amenities project which will include trails, site amenities, wayfinding and interpretive signage, native landscaping, shade, and a bird watching station.
