Monday evening, Plymouth Park Superintendent Mike Hite received the Park Board’s approval file an application for the next phase of the Greenway Trail. He told board members he and the city engineer attended an information meeting on Next Level Trails, a state program where they are trying to connect different trails to make one.
Hite would like to apply for the grant and continue with the next phase of the Greenway Trail from the newly installed pedestrian bridge near Garro Street and proceed through River Park Square to the pedestrian bridge into the South Gateway.
Hite said the grant is sizable and due on February 15th. The minimum grant approval is $200,000 which is a bit higher than estimates for that portion of the park’s project. He suggested adding some amenities such as lighting in the portion of the trail in RPS to bring the project up to the $200,000 level.
The grant has a 20% match so the total project would be $250,000. Hite noted that one of the big plusses is they are receptive to in-kind donations or donations of land toward the local match along with the cost of design plans that are in place.
It appears funds from the grant will be available yet this fiscal year. Hite said this is a State grant run by the Department of Natural Resources and not a federal grant which has a lot less regulations.
This new grant will have three rounds which Hite said will be advantage to the park since they already have a design plan in place with a fairly detailed design and cost estimate by The Troyer Group. He will apply next month while other park departments may have to wait until the next round.
The park board motioned to have Superintendent Hite pursue the grant opportunity to extend the Greenway Trail.
