A record-breaking amount of Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission grants is set to beautify local parks throughout the Lone Star State.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission is awarding $21.2 million in local park grants, that 50 community parks statewide will benefit from — whether it be adding natural trails, kayak launches, piers or playgrounds.
These grants, which are allocated to local government entities, are reimbursed on a 50/50 match basis. The grants are awarded in three categories —- urban outdoor recreational grants for populations exceeding 500,000, non-urban outdoor recreation grants for municipalities under 500,000 and small community recreation grants for towns serving fewer than 20,000 people.
San Antonio and Fort Worth are receiving the larger end of grants, with each city receiving a $1.5 million grant. For the Alamo City, the urban outdoor recreation grant will aid improvements at Pearsall Park — enhancing it with a bike track, lighting, shade structures and construction of a track perimeter.
The city of New Braunfels received a non-urban outdoor grant exceeding $700,000 for a neighborhood park on Coll Street. The grant will allow for utilities, a pavilion, an accessible playground, shade, a drinking fountain, picnic tables — all on the backdrop of native trees and landscaping complete with irrigation.
With the funding, the parks must remain maintained and open to the public.