Texas Border Business
EDINBURG – Hidalgo County will receive a $1,223,357 urban outdoor grant for the Sunflower Memorial Park project located in Hidalgo County Precinct 4. The Hidalgo County grant, submitted by Precinct 4 Commissioner Ellie Torres and her staff, ranked 1st in scoring and ranking. Proposed developments include an inclusive playground, splash pad, exercise stations, ballfields, basketball court, soccer field, picnic facilities, pavilion, site furnishings, shade structures, lighted walking trails, a parking lot and other support facilities.
The grants were part of a $15.7 million in awards handed out by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission to help fund projects that will create and enhance outdoor recreational opportunities like nature trails, native gardens, playgrounds, splash pads, dog parks and sports fields at 30 community parks across the state.
“We are excited for the grant awarded by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission,” said Commissioner Torres. “This grant allows Hidalgo County Precinct 4 to complete the park located in the San Carlos community. The park will provide residents with an outdoor venue that offers an opportunity to engage in recreational and healthy living activities, improve the quality of the air we breathe, provide vegetative buffers and prevent flooding. Most importantly, it will provide a place for children from local schools and clubs to engage in daily and after-school programming for generations to come.”
The grants, allocated to local government entities, appropriate state and federal funding dedicated for the acquisition and/or development of public recreation areas and facilities in Texas on a 50/50 reimbursement match basis. Once funded, all grant-assisted sites must be dedicated as parkland in perpetuity, properly maintained and open to the public. The commission, which administers the local park grants program for the state of Texas, awarded projects in various categories based on community population size and scope.
State Representative Terry Canales (District 40 – Edinburg) added, “Parks like Sunflower Memorial serve as the heart of their communities. This park in San Carlos will benefit all residents by providing them a place to exercise, play, and enjoy the outdoors. Thank you Commissioner Torres and Precinct 4 for your efforts to improve our local parks for the benefit of the entire community.”
For more information about the local park grants program, visit the TPWD local park grants page.
For more information on this award, please contact Hidalgo County Precinct 4 at 956-383-3112.
