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Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Apply for a $235,200 Grant from the North Carolina Accessible Parks Grant Program to Replace the Outdoor Playground at the Fit For Fun Center with an ADA Accessible Playground
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Department: |
Parks and Recreation |
Meeting Date: |
February 4, 2025 |
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Contact Name: |
Amy Beatty |
Public Hearing: |
No |
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Contact Phone: |
910-341-5838 |
Advertising Date/Advertised By: |
N/A |
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Attachments: |
Attachment #1: Resolution Attachment #2: Playground Rendering |
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this resolution is to request approval to apply for $235,200 from the North Carolina Accessible Parks Grant Program to support the replacement of the outdoor playground at the Fit For Fun Center.
BACKGROUND:
The Fit For Fun Center, located at 302 S. 10th Street, is a Parks and Recreation facility where children ages 0-5 and their families are offered a diverse range of structured activities, programs, and special events throughout the year. The center includes a large outdoor play area featuring a playground, slides, tunnels, and various ride-on-toys, and it is heavily utilized for special events.
Fit For Fun’s outdoor playground was installed in 2002. Modern outdoor playgrounds are recommended to be replaced 15-20 years after installation, depending on the playground’s volume of use. The Fit For Fun Center’s outdoor playground is approaching 23 years in age and has a comparatively high volume of use. It is also not currently fully ADA accessible.
The Accessible Parks Grant Program provides $12.5 million in matching grants for parks and recreation to benefit people living with disabilities in North Carolina. Local governments, including public authorities, are eligible to apply. This program is administered through the Division of Parks and Recreation and the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund. The grants can be used for the construction of special facilities or adaptation of existing facilities. Each applicant must match the grant with at least one dollar of local funds for every five dollars in grant funds.
The current cost estimate for the project is $294,000. The City has match funds in the amount of $58,800 available in the Parks Capital Maintenance Fund.
The application deadline is March 3, 2025. Awards will be announced in June 2025, and if awarded, the project must be completed by August 31, 2028.
budget
BUDGET IMPACT:
If the grant is awarded, an ordinance will come back for approval with a budget impact of $235,200 in new revenue, and appropriation of $58,800 in matching funds from the Parks Capital Maintenance Fund.
recommendation
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
City Parks and Recreation staff request approval to apply for an Accessible Parks Grant in the amount of $235,200 to supplement existing funding, available in the Fiscal Year 2025 Adopted Budget, for the replacement of the Fit For Fun Center outdoor playground with an ADA-accessible playground.