Title
Resolution to Approve a 2024 Land and Water Conservation Grant Application to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Grants Management for Improvements at the Buhr Park Ice Arena and Commit $500,000.00 in Local Matching Funds if the Grant is Awarded
Memorandum
This resolution authorizes a grant application to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Grants Management (MDNRGM) for accessibility and sustainability improvements to the Buhr Park Ice Arena and commits $500,000.00 in local matching funds if the grant is awarded.
Grant Description: The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is a National Park Service grant that is administered in part through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The Land and Water Conservation Fund was established by Congress in 1964 to safeguard natural areas, water resources and cultural heritage, and to provide recreation opportunities to all Americans. Grant amounts range from $30,000.00 to $500,000.00 and require a 50% match from local funds.
In 2023, City Council approved resolutions R-23-084 and R-23-315, which supported the City's 2023 LWCF grant application for the project described here. Due to heavy grant competition, the City did not receive a grant award for the 2023 cycle. Staff hope to resubmit in the 2024 cycle with some improvements to enhance grant scoring.
Background: The Buhr Park ice arena is an outdoor covered rink, and one of two ice arenas owned by the City Parks, the other being Veterans Memorial Park ice arena. The Buhr Park arena is open November through February (weather permitting) and offers public ice skating, drop-in hockey and rental hours, and provides locker rooms, vending machines, restrooms and skate rentals and sharpening services.
The facility is located in the southeast part of the city which is characterized by higher racial diversity and lower median incomes. It is located adjacent to the Hikone neighborhood which is one of the Ann Arbor Housing Commission publi...
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