AUSTIN — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission today approved close to $16 million in competitive local park grants to help fund projects that will create and enhance outdoor recreational opportunities like nature trails, urban gardens, playgrounds with full accessibility, dog parks, splash pads and sports fields at 37 community parks across the state.

The grants allocate to local government entities appropriated state and federal funding dedicated for the acquisition and/or development of public recreation areas and facilities in Texas on a 50/50 reimbursement match basis. Once funded, all grant assisted sites must be dedicated as parkland in perpetuity, properly maintained and open to the public.

The commission, which administers the local parks grant program for the State of Texas, awarded projects in various categories based on community population size and scope. Urban Outdoor Recreation Grants are reserved for cities having populations exceeding 500,000, with projects in five communities receiving grants. The Non-Urban Outdoor Recreation Grants are dedicated to funding park projects in municipalities under 500,000 and the commission approved awards to projects in 13 communities. The Small Community Recreation Grants are for park projects in towns of less than 20,000 and were awarded to 13 communities. Urban Indoor Grants are given to communities with populations exceeding 500,000 and were awarded to two communities. Non-Urban Indoor Grants are given to municipalities with a population less than 500,000 and were awarded to four communities.

For more information about the local park grants program, visit the TPWD local park grants page.

The grant funds awarded are listed below by region:

Austin

Austin will receive a $500,000 urban indoor grant for its Dove Springs Recreation Center project. The funds will be used to expand and renovate the existing site. Proposed developments include a commercial kitchen renovation, new fitness room with equipment, new activity room with furnishings, computer lab, upgraded accessibility, offices, fixtures, exterior landscaping, utilities and building systems.

Austin is the recipient of a $1 million urban outdoor grant for its Emma Long Metropolitan Park project. Proposed development includes trails, shoreline restoration, pavilions with picnic tables, boat launch improvements, entry state improvements, parking and driveway renovations, utilities and signage.

Florence has been awarded a $319,550 non-urban outdoor grant towards its city park pool renovation project. Proposed development for this project includes the renovation of a swimming pool with a cooling deck and outdoor showers, a renovated basketball court, shaded playground, picnic tables, grills, bleachers, sand volleyball court, rain catchment and native landscaping with drip irrigation.

Granite Shoals has received a $500,000 non-urban outdoor grant for a multipurpose sports facility in Burnet County. The proposed development includes a two acre dedicated natural area, a sheltered facility for soccer, basketball, volleyball, shuffleboard, pickle ball and bleachers, a baseball field, picnic tables, a playground, trails, a scent garden, fencing, utilities and park lighting.

Hutto has been awarded a $500,000 non-urban outdoor grant for its Creekside and Fritz Park enhancement project. Proposed development includes renovation of youth ball fields with irrigation, parking lot, soccer and ball field lighting picnic tables, botanical garden with solar lighting and drip irrigation at Creekside Park. Fritz Park’s improvements feature an all-inclusive playground with shade shelter and recirculating splash pad.

Lago Vista is the recipient of a $500,000 non-urban outdoor grant for its Lago Vista Park and open space project. The funds will support the use of about 33 acres of publicly owned non-parkland and develop 23.24 acres for Lago Vista Park. The proposed development for the site includes 10.2 acres of dedicated open space, trails, baseball field, softball field, playground, sand volleyball court, soccer field, picnic tables, benches and scent garden.

Rockdale will receive a $75,000 small community grant for its Sumuel Park project. Proposed developments for the site includes a splash pad with recirculating water system.

Taylor has been awarded a $500,000 non-urban outdoor grant toward its Heritage Park and skate park project. Proposed developments for the park include a skate park, amphitheater, splash pad, shade structures, benches, picnic tables, landscaping with drip irrigation, interpretive signs, fitness course, art wall, solar lighting and walkways.

Williamson County is the recipient of a $750,000 non-urban indoor grant for its Williamson County interpretive center project. The funds will be used to support the development of a nature interpretive center in River Ranch County Park. The proposed developments includes a 3,100 square foot building with a classroom, exhibit space and displays, interpretive signs, outdoor classroom with fireplace on the porch, meeting space, reference library, office and restrooms.

Dallas

The Denton County Freshwater Supply District 10 are the recipients of a $500,000 non-urban outdoor grant for its Arrow Brooke Park project. The funds will be used to acquire 6.3 acres by donation to develop Arrow Brooke Park. The proposed developments include a playground with shade structure, picnic tables, baseball field, football field, soccer field, trails, fitness stations, native prairie restoration with drip irrigation, benches, fishing dock, butterfly garden, riparian plantings, landscaping and irrigation system.

Hico will receive a $31,250 small community grant for its city park project. Proposed developments include a garden area, playground with swings, renovation of the pavilion, benches, picnic tables and horseshoe pit.

Rice will receive a $75,000 small community grant toward its Mike Dickens Memorial Park project. Proposed developments includes a butterfly garden, benches, walkway, native plants, gazebo, play area, interpretive signage, batting cages, awnings, playground canopies, playscape renovations, picnic tables and renovation of baseball, softball, football and soccer fields.

North Richland Hills has been awarded a $500,000 non-urban outdoor grant for its Northfield Park project. Proposed developments include lighted softball fields, lighted baseball field, sand volleyball courts, lighted tennis courts, playground, basketball court, pavilion, trails, landscaping, picnic tables, benches, rainwater collection system and drip irrigation.

West was awarded a $31,250 small community grant for its city park project. The project will support the rebuild of 3.73 acre City Park. Proposed developments include a nature trail, lighted walking trail, lighting for tennis and baseball courts and native landscaping.

East Texas

Athens will receive a $75,000 small community grant for its O.D. Baggett Park project. Proposed developments include a sand volleyball court, pavilion, park lighting, picnic tables, benches, grills, park lighting, playground improvements, the decommissioning of the pool and renovation of the basketball courts and baseball fields.

De Kalb was awarded a $72,330 small community grant for its city park project. Proposed developments include a playground, picnic tables, benches, native landscaping and renovations to the baseball and soccer fields.

Houston

Harris County is the recipient of a $1 million urban outdoor grant for its Alabonson Sports and Nature Center project located in northwest Houston. Proposed development for the project includes a football field, softball fields, a soccer field, pavilion with picnic tables, playground, cable run for the blind, native landscaping, irrigation, utilities and bike racks.

Harris County will receive a $1 million urban indoor grant toward development of the John Paul’s Landing Environmental Education Center. Proposed developments includes the 7,855 square foot facility with furnishing and equipment, utilities, road and parking.

Houston was awarded an urban outdoor grant of $1 million for its Avondale Promenade Park project. Proposed development for the park include a community plaza, pedestrian promenade, pavilion, landscaping with irrigation, interpretive signs, playground, picnic tables, benches, porch swings, dog park, bird roost, utilities and fencing.

The Lavaca Navidad River Authority will receive a $475,559 non-urban indoor grant for its community nature education center project. Proposed development includes a 3,885 square foot building with an exhibit hall, kitchen, meeting rooms, commons area, office and restrooms.

The Timber Lane Utility District is the recipient of a $750,000 non-urban indoor grant for its community center project in Cypress Creek Park. The proposal will includes a 20,000 square foot community center with meeting and event space, educational displays and library, classroom, greenhouse, boardwalk deck, restrooms, maintenance building, storage space and offices.

Panhandle

Bovina has been awarded a $42,580 small community grant for its Arnold Park project. The funds will support the development of a sidewalk at the park.

Floydada was the recipient of a $75,000 small community grant for its Annie Taylor Park project. Proposed development includes a playground, picnic tables, benches, a parking lot, concession building and softball field renovations including fencing, bleachers and awnings.

Levelland will receive a $35,000 small community grant for the playgrounds project at L.G. Grifin Park and Kauffman Park. The proposed developments includes a playground for each park.

Rotan has been awarded a $75,000 small community grant for its Ed Patton Memorial Park project. Proposed development includes an all-inclusive playground.

The city of Slaton was the recipient of the $499,750 non-urban outdoor grant for its Compress Lake Park project. Proposed development for this project includes improvements to the existing lake, fishing piers, shelter with picnic tables, lighted pavilion, lighted trail, lighted playground, natural play area, lighted skate park, benches, pedestrian bridge, native landscaping and restrooms.

Rio Grande Valley

Brownsville will receive a $277,164 non-urban indoor grant for its senior recreation center project. Proposed development includes the remodel of a 2,796 square foot building for a demonstration kitchen, multi-use recreation area and restrooms.

Combes was the recipient of a $27,750 small community grant for its Combes Community Park project. Proposed developments includes a playground with accessible playground equipment, exercise equipment, picnic tables, grills, trash bins and picnic shelters.

Edcouch has been awarded a $500,000 non-urban outdoor grant for its community park project. This funds will support the development of 2.6 acres leased from Edcouch-Elsa Independent School District. The proposed development includes a playground with accessible elements, trails, native landscaping with drip irrigation, splash pad with recirculating water system and shade shelter, pergola, adult swing, wheelchair swing, group shelters with picnic tables, grills, rainwater collection systems, solar lighting, community garden, exercise stations, T-ball field, mini soccer field and parking.

Los Indios will receive a $75,000 small community grant for its community park project. Proposed developments includes renovation of the existing basketball court, adding a pavilion and fitness equipment area, landscaping and interpretive signs.

Mercedes was the recipient of a $500,000 non-urban outdoor grant for its sports complex community park project. Proposed development includes sheltered picnic units, playground with universal equipment, soccer fields, pavilions, restroom and equipment building, a basketball court, rainwater harvesting system and drip irrigation.

Port Isabel will receive a $75,000 small community grant for its Washington Park project. Proposed developments include renovation of the existing basketball court with a pavilion and exercise equipment area, fencing, landscaping, interpretive signs and a barbecue pit.

Port Isabel was the recipient of a $500,000 non-urban outdoor grant for its Arturo Galvan Coastal Park project. Proposed development includes habitat restoration, nature trail, benches, interpretive signs, picnic tables with grills, bird blind, playground, a renovated paddling launch and parking.

San Antonio

Bexar County was the recipient of an urban outdoor grant of $1 million for its Hot Wells County Park project. Proposed development for this project includes trails, railroad crossing and entry road, invasive species removal and utilities.

Floresville was awarded a $500,000 non-urban outdoor grant towards the second part of its river park project. Proposed development for this project includes a ball field renovation, practice fields, batting cages, football field, splash pad with recirculating water system, amphitheater, inclusive playground, wildlife viewing area and walkways with solar lighting.

West Texas

Del Rio was the recipient of a $500,000 non-urban outdoor grant for its community sports park project. The grant will be used to acquire 30 additional acres to expand upon its existing 11 acre sports park. Other proposed development includes renovation of existing softball and baseball fields, multi-purpose field, a playground, picnic tables, trails, fitness stations and landscaping.

El Paso was awarded an urban outdoor grant of $1 million for its Northeast Regional Park project. The proposed development for this project includes lighted ballfields, a dog park, trails, benches, fitness stations, landscaping, signs and a parking lot expansion.