31 Tex. Admin. Code § 61.134 - Local Park and Recreation Grant Program
(a) The purpose of this section is to provide
a mechanism for determining the suitability of project proposals for funding
the acquisition of land and the development of public indoor and outdoor
recreation facilities.
(b) Scoring
Criteria.
(1) Community Need (Total Range:
0-10 points).
(A) Applicant has a current
Park, Recreation, and Open Space Comprehensive Plan or other comparable plan on
file with the department at the time of application. (5 points)
(B) Applicant:
(i) describes the needs-assessment process
used for this project;
(ii)
explains the influence of community needs on the site design;
(iii) provides a detailed description of the
public input process (including the timing of public comment opportunity,
methods for obtaining and analyzing public comment, and the results/impacts of
public comment); or
(iv) identifies
other methods of needs assessment such as staff recommendations or threat of a
lost opportunity. (0-5 points)
(2) Goals and Objectives (Total Range: 0-10
points). The project proposal identifies specific, well-defined goals and
objectives that both clearly explain the local priorities to be addressed by
the proposed project and illustrate how the proposed project, if funded, will
support the department's Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation
Plan, Texas Outdoor Recreation Plan, and Local Park Grant program objectives,
as applicable. Proposed projects that provide direct recreational opportunities
will receive priority.
(3) Timeline
and Cost (Total Range: 0-5 points). The project proposal includes a detailed
timeline and budget that identify, on a step-by-step basis, the waypoints along
the continuum of the project's progress from start to finish and all expected
project costs associated with the proposed project, correlated chronologically
to the timeline. The department will evaluate proposed projects with respect to
this criterion based on the feasibility of the project in the context of the
department's understanding of similar projects and the consistency of the
submitted budget with that understanding, particularly with respect to
acquisition and/or construction costs.
(4) Site Design (Total Range: 0-10 points).
An application must include a site plan/boundary map that is clear,
easy-to-read, and contains all information required by and identified in the
funding application. Acquisition-only projects must describe plans to protect
natural and cultural resources and include plans depicting anticipated future
development.
(A) Site design takes into
consideration the character and special features (including features of
natural, cultural, or historical importance) of the site and clearly identifies
street names, total acreage, true north arrow, utilities, easements, special
features, boundaries of existing parkland, and boundaries of acquisition
tracts. Site maps correlate with the project components described in the
application and outlined in the itemized budget. (0-5 points)
(B) Project maximizes the use of funds for
acquisition, recreation and conservation opportunities, determined by dividing
the direct acquisition, recreational, and conservation costs by the total
construction costs and multiplying the result by 5. (0-5 points)
(5) Organizational capacity (Total
Range: 0-5 points).
(A) The applicant
demonstrates to the department's satisfaction that qualified staff and
resources are in place to manage the grant from inception to completion, or,
alternatively, evidence that the applicant is partnered with an entity to
provide staff and/or resources necessary to manage the grant from inception to
completion.
(B) The applicant
demonstrates to the department's satisfaction that resources are in place to
properly operate and maintain facilities supported by the grant following
completion, or, alternatively, a feasible plan and timeline for obtaining
resources to properly operate and maintain the facilities supported by the
grant following completion.
(6) Past Performance (Total Range: 0-10
points).
(A) Applicant is a first-time
applicant. (10 points); or
(B)
Applicant is in full compliance with the conditions of previously-funded and
active recreation grants awarded by the department under this subchapter. (10
points); or
(C) Applicant is not in
compliance with the conditions of previously-funded and active recreation
grants awarded by the department under this subchapter but provides a credible
and feasible action plan and timeline for achieving compliance. (0-10
points).
(7) Geographic
Distribution (Total Range: 0-5 points). The project will improve the geographic
distribution of park and recreation lands and facilities in the project's
service area or within the applicant's jurisdiction.
(A) Project provides the first public park in
the applicant's jurisdiction or intended service area (5 points); or
(B) Project:
(i) fills a critical parks and recreation gap
as identified through research, public input, or other means. (0-3
points).
(ii) is safely accessible
to the public via multiple modes of transportation (e.g., walking, biking,
public transportation system). (0-2 points).
(8) Under-served Populations (Total Range:
0-10 points). The proposed project increases opportunity and improves access to
parks and recreation facilities for under-served populations.
(A) Project improves opportunities for
low-income citizens, defined as the percent of households making less than
$35,000 per year, based on economic and demographic data for the service area
from the most recent federal census data; and/or
(B) Project improves opportunities for ethnic
minority citizens, defined as the percent of a population that does not select
"white alone" on the US Census, based on economic and demographic data for the
service area from the most recent census data; determined by multiplying the
sum of percentage of population qualifying as low-income and percentage of
population qualifying as minority by 5.
(9) Accessibility (Total Range: 0-5 points).
The proposed project provides park and recreation opportunities for
physically/mentally challenged citizens that exceed federal and state required
accessibility standards.
(10)
Conservation (Total Range: 0-10 points). The proposed project actively protects
or restores sensitive ecosystems and incorporates elements that cultivate
support for and awareness of natural and/or cultural resources.
(11) Sustainable Park Design (Total Range:
0-10 points). The applicant demonstrates that the proposed project uses or
incorporates sustainable design features and practices.
(12) Coordination with Subject Matter
Experts. (Total Range: 0-5 points).
(A) The
applicant demonstrates meaningful input to the proposed project by subject
matter experts in acquisition, planning, design, natural resource protection,
and construction.
(B) The proposed
project reflects consideration and inclusion of best management practices in
all phases of project development.
(13) Outside Partnerships (Total Range: 0-5
points). The extent to which the proposed project involves the contribution of
resources from sources other than the applicant to serve as all or part of the
applicant's matching share of funds.
(A)
Current, signed letters of commitment providing detailed descriptions of the
nature and value of contributions, including methodologies employed to
determine those values. Points shall be awarded on a percentage basis,
determined by dividing the total outside contribution value by the total match
and multiplying the result by 3. (0-3 points); and/or
(B) Applicant demonstrates and documents
external support greater than the required match, including overmatch and/or
community mobilization. (0-2 points)
Notes
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