Community parks are medium sized parks (10 - 20 acres) that include a mix of active and passive recreation facilities that serve multiple neighborhoods and may attract people from throughout the city as well as visitors to Sparks.  These parks support the same activities as neighborhood parks and more.  These parks support large group activities, organized recreation (soccer and little league), and self-directed activities.  Amenities include parking lots and restrooms.  By definition of size, Pah Rah Mountain Park, located at 1750 Shadow Lane, is the only community park in Sparks at 16.5 acres.

As described above, the parks current amenities include walking paths, basketball and tennis courts, a youth baseball field, 3 playground structures, seasonal restrooms, horseshoe pits, rentable picnic pavilions and open turf for structured and unstructured play.  Since the installment of our all abilities playground, Pah Rah Park has become a regional attraction.  Additionally, the park is adjacent to the Jerry Whitehead Elementary School and is permitted for soccer and baseball (Spring and Fall) use through the Parks and Recreation Department.

The current restrooms were built in 1990 and are out of service 20% of the summer season. Staff has been providing portable restrooms to subsidize the existing facility. For the health of our park and community, it is necessary to rebuild the restroom facility in order to appropriately meet the needs and increased useage of the park.  The new restroom will provide 8 holes instead of the current 2 holes and will be ADA compliant. It will be open year-round with motion sensor lighting and an automated lock system.

If approved as presented, the FY16 CIP budget will have the $300,000 needed to fulfill this project in Fund 1402, project 16-1602.  Staff would like permission to apply for funds available through the Federal Land & Water Conservation Fund Grants Program.  The funding request minimum is $25,000 with no upper limit (to the amount of the total appropriation).  Local matches can exceed 50%, but the federal share caonnot exceed 50% of the total project amount.  It will be staff's intent to request 50% of the project cost (or $150,000) with the match coming from the approved FY16 CIP, project 16-1602 line item.  If successful, the unused CIP funding may be reassigned to another project.  The grant application deadline is May 8, 2015 at 5:00 p.m.  Evaluation and election of projects will take place through the summer and should be awarded prior to fall construction season, 2015.

1.  Council may choose not to approve staff to apply for funds through the Federal Land & Water Conservation Fund Grants Progam.  This alternative will result in 100% of the project cost being assigned to FY16 CIP, Fund 1402.

2.  Council may choose to approve staff to apply for funds through the Federal Land & Water Conservation Fund Grants Progam.   If funds are recieved, it will lessen the amount needed from FY16 CIP, Fund 1402.

I move to approve staff to apply for funds through the Federal Land & Water Conservation Fund Grants Program.