Sponsor: Parks & Recreation
Title
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Grant Agreement with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for Federal Recreational Trail Program 2024 Grant Award for Trail Extension
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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 the 2024 Federal Recreational Trail Program for Trail Extension.
2. Accept the grant award from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the 2024 Federal Recreational Trail Program in the amount of $60,000 for the development of off-road trails in Battle Creek Regional Park.
3. Agree to provide a match in the amount of $20,000 from Regional Rehab.
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 off-road cycling trails for a period of 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, MN. Ramey County Parks & Recreation along with Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists currently maintains seven miles of off-road trails in Battle Creek Regional Park. Ramsey County Parks & Recreation is submitting a grant to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to expand the trail system by approximately two miles, following the 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>. The trails extensions will help to interconnect and link the existing system, making the layout more accessible and increasing safety among all trail users. 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 the new trails which would help to link the currently disconnected system. Ramsey County Parks & Recreation 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. Parks & Recreation is seeking the approval of a resolution to accompany its grant application.
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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 district 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 extend the trail system will increase accessibility and safety for all trail users in 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 build an additional 2 miles of off-road trails. The $60,000 grant from the Federal Recreational Trail Program requires a project match. Parks has identified $20,000 from Regional Rehab that will cover the local cash 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 the approved 2024-2025 Parks budget.
Last Previous Action
None.
Attachments
1. Federal Recreational Trail Program 2024 Grant Application
2. DNR Award Letter
3. DNR Conditional Offer Letter
4. Grant Program Requirements Check-list