community building grants
13 Central and South Texas parks awarded $9.9 million in local grants
![Northside Community Park in Boerne, Texas](https://sanantonio.culturemap.com/media-library/northside-community-park-in-boerne-texas.png?id=55865750&width=2000&height=1500&quality=65&coordinates=12%2C0%2C13%2C0)
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission has awarded more than $30.9 million in park grants statewide, with more than $4 million earmarked for local parks and community areas in Central Texas, and about $5.88 million for South Texas parks.
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, seven grants were awarded in Central Texas, and one is located in the San Antonio area.
The list of Central Texas parks, funds, and uses for the grants are listed below:
- Northside Community Park in Boerne – $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for development of a splash pad, inclusive playground, rainwater harvesting tank, native landscaping, and interpretive signage.
- Bennie Houston Recreation Center in Brownwood – $1.5 million non-urban indoor grant for renovations.
- John D. and Byrd Mims Garison Memorial Park in Buda – $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for phase one development of water access points, installation of a swimming hole, a kayak/canoe launch with a washing station, bird blind and canopy walk, an overlook with elevated views, a nature play area, and site amenities.
- Jones Brothers Park in Jonestown – $140,000 small community grant for renovations, including the replacement of an existing playground and fencing along with the addition of shade.
- Long Branch Park in Killeen – $12,500 non-urban outdoor grant for the development of pickleball courts and an accessible path.
- Lockhart Aquatics Facility – $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for development of a leisure pool with a water table, zero depth entry, small bucket dump, program space, volleyball net, and basketball goals.
- Jonathan Allison Park in Rogers – $150,000 small community grant for park improvements, such as a trail, inclusive playground equipment, and shade.
- Laguna Madre Nature Center in South Padre Island – $1,500,000 non-urban indoor grant for development of a new nature center, interpretive exhibits, sidewalks, site amenities, solar lighting, native landscaping, irrigation, and rain catchment.
- Laureles Regional Park in San Benito – $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for new developments and renovations, such as a nature trail, lighting, native landscaping and irrigation, interpretive signage, site amenities, sports field lighting replacement, inclusive playground, pavilion, fitness equipment, picnic facilities, rain catchment, and perimeter fencing.
- Harlingen Recreation Center – $1.53 million non-urban indoor grant for improvements.
- Maverick County Nick Carr Sports Complex Recreation Center in Eagle Pass – $13,150 non-urban indoor grant for renovations.
- Laguna Madre Youth Center in Port Isabel – $1.5 million non-urban indoor grant for improvements.
- Webb County Colonia Splash Pad in Laredo – 585,000 non-urban outdoor grant for development of the project's splash pads and three park sites, restroom renovations at two sites, site amenities, shade installation, lighting, and accessible parking.