Sponsor: Parks & Recreation
Title
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Grant Agreement with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for Federal Recreational Trail Program 2024 Equipment Grant
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Recommendation
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1. Ratify the submittal of the grant application to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for Federal Recreational Trail Program 2024 Equipment Grant.
2. Accept the grant award with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the Federal Recreational Trail Program 2024 Equipment Grant in the amount of $15,000 to develop an Off-Road Cycling Skills area at Battle Creek Regional Park.
3. Agree to provide a match in the amount of $5,000 from Regional Rehab funds.
4. Approve naming Benjamin Karp, Landscape Architect with Ramsey County Parks & Recreation, located at 2015 Van Dyke St., Maplewood Minnesota, to act as the fiscal agent for the duration of the project as specified in the grant program requirements.
5. Agree that the Parks & Recreation department will maintain the area and equipment for no less than 20 years as specified in the grant program requirements.
6. Agree that Parks will comply with all applicable state and federal laws, environmental requirements and regulations as stated in the grant agreement.
7. Authorize the County Manager to enter into agreements and execute amendments to agreements in accordance with the county’s procurement policies and procedures, provided the amounts are within the limits of the grant funding.
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Background and Rationale
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Ramsey County owns Battle Creek Regional Park, located in the cities of Saint Paul and Maplewood Minnesota. Ramsey County Parks & Recreation (Parks) along with Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists currently maintains seven miles of off-road trails in Battle Creek Regional Park. Parks is submitting a grant to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to purchase skills equipment to teach the basics and fundamental riding techniques required for the sport of mountain biking. The equipment purchase would support these trails by teaching beginner and intermediate riders the skills necessary to access the wide variety of trails and features present in the park. This project would help to expand the user base and accessibility of off-road cycling at Battle Creek Regional Park. Various schools, programs, sports teams, and many others would benefit from being able to teach the basics of mountain biking before becoming comfortable enough with their skill set to venture out to the off-road trail system. Parks completed the Off-Road Cycling Plan <https://www.ramseycounty.us/sites/default/files/Parks%20and%20Recreation/Parks/Off%20Road%20Cycling%20Master%20Plan%20March%206th%2C%202018.pdf> <https://www.ramseycounty.us/sites/default/files/Parks%20and%20Recreation/Parks/Off%20Road%20Cycling%20Master%20Plan%20March%206th%2C%202018.pdf> in 2018 and has been actively pursuing different avenues to fund updates to the park in compliance with this plan as well as the 2023 Battle Creek Regional Park Long Range Plan <https://www.ramseycounty.us/sites/default/files/Parks%20and%20Recreation/Battle%20Creek%20Master%20Plan%20March%202023.pdf>. <https://www.ramseycounty.us/sites/default/files/Parks%20and%20Recreation/Battle%20Creek%20Master%20Plan%20March%202023.pdf>.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Battle Creek Regional Park is located in an area of high cultural and socio-economic diversity within Ramsey County. Off-Road cycling is currently being programmed by area high schools, volunteer groups, Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists (MORC), Little Bellas and many other cycling groups whose goals are to expand equitable access to the sport.
Little Bellas works to involve residents immediately surrounding the park. The program also has scholarships available to those in need. The Saint Paul Public Schools has also begun to purchase bikes and to offer mountain biking programming at Battle Creek Middle School. These low-cost, community-oriented programs specifically help diversify the traditional off-road cycling demographics.
Obtaining funding to purchase skill development equipment will go a long way toward ensuring that diverse riders have the skills and support they need to further explore mountain biking and Battle Creek Regional Park.
Community Participation Level and Impact
Parks held a robust community engagement process for off-road cycling in Battle Creek Regional Park. The Off-Road Cycling Plan was completed in 2018 and the Battle Creek Long Range Plan was approved in 2023. Community engagement information has been compiled in both plans and is available online.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☒ Involve ☒ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
Grant funds from the Federal Recreational Trail Program will help provide part of the funding necessary to purchase equipment for a bike skills development area. The $15,000 grant from the Federal Recreational Trail Program requires a project match. Parks has identified $5,000 from Regional Rehab that will cover this project match. The required match has been accounted for in the 2024-2025 budget and is from the Regional Rehab funds. This grant was not included in approved 2024-2025 Parks budget.
Last Previous Action
None.
Attachments
1. Federal Recreational Trail Program 2024 Equipment Grant Application
2. DNR Award Letter
3. DNR Conditional Offer Letter
4. Grant Program Requirements Check-list