The Planning Division and the Parks, Recreation and Public Lands Department are seeking approval from the City Council to apply for the 2016 Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant for $45,000 to continue trail connections, wayfinding, and informational signage facilities at Swords Park.  Montana State Parks manages the RTP grant process that administers federal funding with oversight from the Federal Highway Administration.

Award of this grant would significantly supplement funding and expand projects already proposed by the Parks, Recreation and Public Lands Department and the Yellowstone Kelly Steering Committee to improve and enhance the user experience along some of Billings' longest continuous trails. The proposed signage will utilize the guidelines of the Billings Parks, Recreation and Public Lands Signage Framework Plan, and will likely include a a kiosk to be located near the intersection of Swords Park, Aronson Avenue, and Alkali Creek.   Wayfinding signage would be located at places like the Swords Park trail/Aronson trail intersections, and near the Yellowstone Kelly interpretive site.  Trail construction includes connections to and from the main Swords Park trail to the Yellowstone Kelly Interpretive Site and trail circulation within the interpretive site.

The City Council may:

• Approve the 2016 RTP Grant Application for signage, trail mile markers, an informational kiosk, and trail construction in the Swords Park area; or
• Not approve the 2016 RTP Grant Application for signage, trail mile markers, an informational kiosk, and trail construction in the Swords Park area. Not approving the application would limit the financial opportunities for improvements, amenities, and information for trail and park users that the Parks Department and Planning Division continue to work to provide in the community. In addition, significant local funds are being provided for further improvements to the Yellowstone Kelly Interpretive site and the Swords Park.  The addition of this grant will advance the improvement plans in this City park.

If awarded, this grant will provide the City of Billings with up to $45,000 of additional funding for Swords Park improvements.  This grant provides reimbursement after expenditure of funds and requires a 20% local match.  The required local match, of up to $9,000, will come from existing budget allocations and donations managed by the Parks Department for signage and trail amenities.  Planning and engineering of the Yellowstone Kelly Interpretive Site can also be used for local match.  No additional match is being requested from the City.  Much of the budget for trail amenities in the Swords Park area has come from private contributions and this grant will maximize the impact of those donations.

The Planning Division staff and Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands Department staff recommend the Council approve submitting a 2016 RTP Grant Application for signage, trail mile markers, an informational kiosk, and trail construction in the Swords Park area.