City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: APRIL 18, 2023
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: JAMES SPENGLER, DIRECTOR
RECREATION, PARKS & CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
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Consideration of a Grant Application to the 2023 Recreational Trails Program at the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.
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ISSUE: Consideration of a grant application to the 2023 Recreational Trails Program at the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to submit, accept and implement the grant if awarded.
BACKGROUND: The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has opened a grant round for $1.4 million for recreational trail programs in the Commonwealth. The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is a federal 80-20 matching reimbursement program established to construct and rehabilitate recreational trails and trail-related facilities such as trail maintenance, repair, and amenity projects on existing land and water trails. For this year’s call for projects, the RTP will only fund maintenance or enhancements to existing trails.
In 2021, the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities (RPCA) completed the Park Facility Standards Manual (Standards) and established minimum design, construction, and performance expectations for the City's park features. The Standards inform and guide park and open space planning, capital improvements, and capital maintenance, and inform life-cycle resource investments in public spaces, including wayfinding. The City’s adopted Alexandria Mobility Plan calls for improving wayfinding for people walking and biking as a key action to creating a safe and comfortable walking and bicycling environment.
DISCUSSION: The City’s off-street trails provide access to key destinations such as Metro Stations, parks, neighborhoods, schools, commercial areas, and other trail connections within Alexandria and beyond, and would make it easier for trail users to navigate the system and reach their desired destinations.
The City proposes to request up to $312,000 in RTP funds to design and implement improved wayfinding on the City’s off-street trail network. The maximum grant request of $312,000 was calculated based on the available City budget of $65,000 providing the required 20% local match. The City’s project is scalable, and portions of the project would continue to be implemented should the City receive a reduced grant amount. The City received previous RTP Grant funding for the construction of the bridge in Four Mile Run Park connecting the natural area along Four Mile Run stream and the paved walking and biking trail behind the softball field.
FISCAL IMPACT: $65,000. A local match of 20% is required and would be funded through the Shared-Use Paths CIP utilizing existing approved funding.
ATTACHMENTS: None.
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Jack Browand, Deputy Director, RPCA
Bethany Znidersic, Division Chief, RPCA
Jose Carlos Ayala, Principal Planner, RPCA
Tarrence Moorer, Interim Director, T&ES
Alexandria Carroll, Principal Planner, T&ES