Billings Parks and Recreation staff is proposing to apply for a Land Water Conservation Funding (LWCF) grant for improvements to the Rose Park Playground. The grant application requires a Council resolution authorizing the application submission (see Attachment A).  By applying for this grant, the City may be eligible for up to $150,000 to support the playground project. The Park Maintenance District 1 (PMD1) FY18 budget is $270,000 for this playground equipment replacement. The LWCF grant funds will be used to reconfigure the playground pods to consolidate the two smaller pods into one larger play area which will improve sight lines and access. The grant has a 50% match requirement, which is met by the City's PMD 1 appropriation. The grant application deadline is Friday, March 30, 2018, but the grant award may be as late as early 2019. Due to this timeframe, the replacement project will be delayed slightly.  As part of the application process, staff contacted stakeholders and surrounding property owners to inform them of the grant opportunity, to solicit letters of support and to receive comments.

City Council may:

• Approve the resolution authorizing application for LWCF assistance or;
• Disapprove the resolution and provide staff with additional guidance.

The PMD 1 budget for this project is $270,000. If the City is awarded a $150,000 LWCF grant, those funds will be used to reconfigure the playground in addition to replacing aging playground equipment.

Staff recommends that the City Council approve the resolution authorizing a grant application for LWCF funding to improve the Rose Park Playground.