BRENHAM PARKS AND RECREATION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH STATE GRANT PROGRAM
Brenham’s Park and Recreation Advisory Board has agreed to move forward with an application to join a state grant program.
At Wednesday’s meeting, the board approved a recommendation to join the Texas Parks and Wildlife Local Park Grant Program. Public Works Director Dane Rau says the grant will be for Brenham Family Park improvements.
Rau says Phase 1-a of the city’s plan for Brenham Family Park includes several outdoor recreational features. Some of the improvements mentioned included a four-acre water feature for fishing and recreation; additional walking and biking trails, with security lighting; wildflower viewing areas; restrooms; a trail bridge; road extensions and parking. Rau says this is “just a start,” if the board receives the grant.
Rau stresses that Brenham’s City Council has the ultimate authority to decide whether to move forward with the grant process, as well as how to improve the park. He says the council plans to address the park at its meeting Thursday.
The board has until October 1st to submit an application for the grant program. Rau says once the application is in, the board should hear by March if it is eligible for the grant.
Construction cost estimates currently run at $1.7 million for the first phase of improvements. The Brenham Community Development Corporation (BCDC) has already allocated $500,000 to Brenham Family Park, in its 2018-19 fiscal budget.
In addition, the BCDC has over $172,000 left from funds set aside in previous years, for items in the first phase of improvements.
Rau says additional funding to complete the first phase will be requested in next year’s budget, if they are awarded the grant.
In other items, the board agreed to move forward with placement of a donated public art project from the Brenham Art League.
The project, a five-foot bronze statue, will be placed in Fireman’s Park, near the Nancy Carol Roberts Memorial Library.
The Art League says production of the statue could take up to six months to complete, and will launch once they obtain necessary funding.
The board also received a series of updates on administration, recreation, maintenance, and the Blue Bell Aquatic Center.