August 4, 2023 |
Photo – Rawlins Family Recreation Center – Bigfoot99 file photo
The Rawlins Parks and Recreation Department will use grant money to fix two of the city’s outdoor sports facilities.
At Tuesday’s Rawlins city council meeting, Parks and Recreation Director Jason Sehon said the city was approved for two Land and Water Conservation Fund grants. Sehon said the grant applications were submitted in November of last year.
According to the US Department of the Interior website, Land and Water Conservation Fund grants can be used for a range of projects from establishing baseball fields and community green spaces. Sehon said the first grant would be used to renovate the cart paths at Rochelle Ranch Golf Course. Sehon said the city will use $50,000 of impact assistance money to cover the 50% grant match.
Sehon said the second Land and Water Conservation Fund grant would be used to replace the tennis courts at Washington Park. Sehon said the tennis courts have been closed for years because of the rough surface.
The parks and rec director said six years ago, Carbon County School District #1 gave the city a $125,000 grant to replace the tennis courts. Sehon said he didn’t know why the money wasn’t used earlier.
Sehon said he’s gone to the CCSD1 Recreation Board to ask for an extension on the grant. The parks and rec director said local grants can be used as a match for Land and Water Conservation Fund grants. Sehon said his request was granted. He said the school recreation board money combined with parks department employee time has allowed the city to receive a $275,000 grant to replace the tennis courts in Washington Park.
Sehon said the new tennis courts would benefit the entire community, especially the Rawlins High School tennis program.
The parks and rec director said the grant application process has been long and difficult. Sehon said the federal government requested a lot of documentation from the city before the grant was approved.
With the confirmation finally received, Sehon said he can begin soliciting for contractors.
Sehon said the tennis courts will not be replaced this year. The parks and rec director said he will wait until next spring, when the courts are clear of snow, before requesting contractor bids. Sehon said the project may not be completed until 2025.
Sehon ended his presentation by saying that none of the grant match money would come out of the city’s general fund budget. The parks and rec director said local grants and employee time would cover 100% of the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant matches.
