Board looks at grant options (3/4/04)

Additional grant opportunities for the planned Hudson Family Park project topped discussion at the Portland Park Board meeting on Tuesday.

Corey Whitesell of Hannum, Wagle and Cline Engineering, Indianapolis, talked about two grants the board could pursue to help fund the estimated $3.4 million project.

The Recreation Trails Program grant — available through the Indiana Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration — requires a 20 percent match from the board. A maximum of $150,000 can be sought through this grant program.

These federal funds are dispersed by the state and can be used to “develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both non-motorized and motorized recreational trail uses,” according to the program’s web site.

Up to $200,000 is available through the Land and Water Conservation Fund from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. A 50 percent funding match is required.

This program “provides grants for the acquisition or development of outdoor recreation sites and facilities,” according to information from the IDNR web site. These funds are provided through the National Park Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior and are administered by IDNR.

Board member Sharon Bubp said that the approximately 30-acre land donation for the park can be used as a match for these grants.

“The problem that I have is we don’t know what we’re going to get from the (INDOT transportation enhancement) grant,” board president Neil Medler said Wednesday. “And every time you (Continued on page 2)

(Continued from page 1)

apply for a grant, it costs you.”

Seeking both grants suggested by Whitesell would cost $5,000 in application fees, Medler added.

The board resubmitted its application in January for an INDOT transportation enhancement grant, after its first request was turned down in December 2003.

The INDOT grant, which is scheduled to be awarded in the summer or fall of this year, could fund about 80 percent of the total project cost. The project calls for the construction of trails, parking lots, restrooms, drinking fountains in the park and approaches to the planned walking bridge over the Salamonie River. It also could help cover engineering costs.

Medler, Bubp and fellow board members Donald Gillespie and Paul Minnich decided they would meet Tuesday, March 9, at 7 p.m. at a special meeting to decide if they wanted to apply for the grants. The meeting will be held in the city’s street department building on South Wayne Street.

Also Tuesday, board members approved a request by Portland resident Larry Braden to use the basketball courts behind the street department building on Saturday, June 19 for the Hoosier Hoopfest 2-on-2 Basketball Tourney. The courts also were reserved for Sunday, June 20, in case of a rain delay on June 19.

Also, Portland resident Jennifer Rathbun was appointed as manager of the Portland Pool. Former manager Missy Bader is taking a leave of absence this season.

Rathbun has been the assistant manager at the pool for the last six years.

In other business, city street and parks superintendent Jeff Harker told the board he has received replacement pieces for the water slide at the city pool.

The new pieces are replacing sections of the current slide that were cracked. The slide is still under warranty, so the city will only pay for shipping of the replacement parts, Harker said.[[In-content Ad]]