Public Meetings Set to Discuss Criteria for Community Outdoor Outreach, Local Park Grants Awards

AUSTIN – A series of public input meetings will be held across the state to discuss and assess evaluation criteria for awarding funds through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Community Outdoor Outreach Program (CO-OP) Grant and for Local Park Grants programs.

TPWD developed the CO-OP in 1996 to help introduce underserved populations to environmental education, conservation and outdoor recreation programs. The program is authorized by the Texas Legislature through TPWD’s budget as a specialized component of the Texas Recreation and Parks Account Program. CO-OP grant funding is available to tax-exempt non-profit organizations, municipalities, universities and local school districts.

The Local Park Grants program consists of five individual programs that assist local units of government with the acquisition and/or development of public recreation areas and facilities throughout the state. The program provides 50 percent matching grants on a reimbursement basis to eligible applicants. All grant assisted sites must be dedicated as parkland in perpetuity, properly maintained and open to the public.

Existing evaluation criteria for each of these grant programs is available online.

Public feedback during upcoming open meetings will assist TPWD in keeping the evaluation criteria relevant for future grant applicants. Those unable to attend a public meeting will also have the opportunity to participate in an online webinar. After the results of public input are collected and reviewed, TPWD staff will propose evaluation criteria rule changes for consideration by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission in early 2019.

Scheduled Public Meetings:

Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018 — Austin
9 — 11:30 a.m.: Local Park Grant Evaluation Criteria Discussion
1 — 3:30 p.m.: CO-OP Grant Evaluation Criteria Discussion
TPWD Headquarters, Commission Hearing Room
4200 Smith School Road
Austin, Texas 78744

Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 — Houston
9 — 11:30 a.m.: Local Park Grant Evaluation Criteria Discussion
1 — 3:30 p.m.: CO-OP Grant Evaluation Criteria Discussion
TPWD State Parks Region 4 HQ
14200 Garrett Road
Houston, TX 77044

Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018 — El Paso
9 — 11:30 a.m.: Local Park Grant Evaluation Criteria Discussion
1 — 3:30 p.m.: CO-OP Grant Evaluation Criteria Discussion
Pat O’Rourke Recreation Center
901 N. Virginia Street
El Paso, Texas 79902

Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018 — Brownsville
9 — 11:30 a.m.: Local Park Grant Evaluation Criteria Discussion
1 — 3:30 p.m.: CO-OP Grant Evaluation Criteria Discussion
Resaca de la Palma State Park
1000 New Carmen Road
Brownsville, Texas 78520

Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018 — Tyler
9 — 11:30 a.m.: Local Park Grant Evaluation Criteria Discussion
1 — 3:30 p.m.: CO-OP Grant Evaluation Criteria Discussion
Holiday Inn Tyler-South Broadway
5701 S Broadway Ave.
Tyler, TX 75703

Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018 — Fort Worth
9 — 11:30 a.m.: Local Park Grant Evaluation Criteria Discussion
1 — 3:30 p.m.: CO-OP Grant Evaluation Criteria Discussion
Botanical Research Institute of Texas
1700 University Drive
Fort Worth, Texas 76107

Those unable to attend public meetings will have the opportunity to participate in an online webinar listed below.  The webinars will be recorded and made available to the public for those unable to participate on the scheduled date.

Local Parks Grant Webinar

Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018
9 — 11 a.m.
Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7385030769449503235

1 — 3 p.m.
Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5521826952322676227

CO-OP Grant Webinar

Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018
9 – 11 a.m.
Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5923429071926027011

For more information on the above scheduled meetings, please contact TPWD Recreation Grants at rec.grants@tpwd.texas.gov or call 512-389-8224.