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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Trevor Dick, Director of Development Strategy, Julie Frankino, Grant Writer,
Gio Santana, Superintendent of Parks & Recreation
DATE: August 10th, 2023
SUBJECT:
A Resolution authorizing City staff to apply for a $600,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for improvements at Garfield Park.
PURPOSE:
The City of Aurora is seeking to utilize this grant opportunity to renovate and modernize the City of Aurora's Garfield Park on the near east side of the Downtown. This Legacy Park is an important, yet outdated neighborhood space that serves a densely populated area.
BACKGROUND:
Garfield Park is one of the City's five Legacy Parks, which also includes Wilder Park & McCarty Park both of which have been beneficiaries of upgrades the last three years, with Wilder Park specifically being a recipient of a recent OSLAD award. Garfield Park has not received any significant upgrades in recent years. During a recent meeting, we discussed the opportunity to apply for matching grant dollars through the Illinois Department of Transportation's Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) program. Working with our Community Services team, we are hosting a series of meetings for community input on park improvements. Based on the City's interest in this opportunity, along with much needed improvements to a prioritized the park in the near east side were identified and will be detailed in the application, which is due August 31, 2023.
DISCUSSION:
Garfield Park currently consists of a mix of recreational activities including a playground, baseball fields, a shelter and a gravel parking lot The proposed improvements, include but are not limited to a new playground, inclusive play equipment, a splash pad, pickle ball courts, street soccer courts, combination turf fields as well an ADA accessible field along with additional parking, a new walking path, bathrooms, a new shelter, signage and other site furnishings. The City will be seeking the maximum allowable amount of the grant ($600,000) though the OSLAD program, with the remaining funds to be funded through additional funding sources and accounts to be identified. If this application is successful, work on the park is anticipated to commence in 2025.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
The project resulting from this grant opportunity, should it be awarded to the City, will not only enhance the experience of locals visitors from the surrounding neighborhood but will also make this Legacy Park another destination park through increased and improved park amenities.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
We request the proposed resolution be adopted.
cc: Committee of the Whole
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution authorizing the City to apply for a $600,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for improvements at Garfield Park.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, Garfield Park is a Legacy Park and the second largest park City owned Park with amenities in varying stages of disrepair or obsolescence; and
WHEREAS, the City recently has been collaborating with various internal Divisions as well as community input to formalize a plan to repair and upgrade Garfield Park; and
WHEREAS, the Parks Department previously identified the proposed improvements as a priority among the projects to be implemented in Garfield Park; and
WHEREAS, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is offering a grant through the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) program for up to $600,000 of the project cost; and
WHEREAS, the City will provide remaining project cost through additional funding and is seeking City Council approval to apply for an OSLAD grant in the amount of $600,000; and
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WHEREAS, The City hereby certifies and acknowledges that it has the sufficient funds necessary (includes cash and value of donated land) to complete the pending OSLAD project within the timeframes specified herein for project execution, and that failure to adhere to the specified project timeframe or failure to proceed with the project because of insufficient funds or change in local recreation priorities is sufficient cause for project grant termination which will also result in the ineligibility of the local project sponsor for subsequent Illinois IDNR outdoor recreation grant assistance consideration in the next two (2) consecutive grant cycles following project termination; and
WHEREAS, It is understood that the project must be completed within the timeframe established. The OSLAD timeframe is two years as is specified in the project agreement. The Billing Certification Statement must be submitted within 45 days of the grant expiration date and the last reimbursement request must be submitted within one year of the grant expiration date. Failure to do so will result in the Project Sponsor forfeiting all project reimbursements and relieves IDNR from further payment obligations on the grant; and
WHEREAS, The City further acknowledges and certifies that it will comply with all terms, conditions and regulations of 1) the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) program (17 IL Adm. Code 3025); 2) the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act (30 ILCS 705); 3) the federal Uniform Relocation Assistance & Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (P.L. 91-646) and/or the Illinois Displaced Persons Relocation Act (310 ILCS 40 et. seq.), as applicable; 4) the Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5/1-101 et. seq.); 5) Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, (P.L. 83-352); 6) the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (P.L. 94-135); 7) the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1988, (P.L. 100-259); and 8) the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (PL 101-336); and will maintain the project area in an attractive and safe condition, keep the facilities open to the general public during reasonable hours consistent with the type of facility, cease any farming operations, and obtain from the Illinois DNR written approval for any change or conversion of approved outdoor recreation use of the project site prior to initiating such change or conversion; and for property acquired with OSLAD assistance, agree to place a covenant restriction on the project property deed at the time of recording that stipulates the property must be used, in perpetuity, for public outdoor recreation purposes in accordance with the OSLAD programs and cannot be sold or exchanged, in whole or part, to another party without approval from the Illinois DNR, and that development at the site will commence within 3 years, and
WHEREAS, the City certifies to the best of its knowledge that the information provided within the attached application is true and correct.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that the City is authorized to apply for a $600,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for improvements at Garfield Park.