Title
Dept/ Agency: Recreation, Cultural Affairs and Senior Services
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Application for Grant Funds
Purpose: An application for grant funds to redesign Broadway Park and develop the site into a new city park.
Entity Name: State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Green Acres Program, Urban Parks Initiative Grant
Entity Address: 501 East State Street, 1st Floor, Trenton, New Jersey 08625
Grant Amount: $500,000.00
Total Project Cost: $4,000,000.00 to $5,000,000.00
City Contribution: $500,000.00
Other Funding Source/Amount: $0.00
Grant Period: July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2023
Contract Basis: ( ) Bid () State Vendor ( ) Prof. Ser. ( ) EUS
( ) Fair & Open ( ) No Reportable Contributions ( ) RFP ( ) RFQ
( ) Private Sale (X) Grant ( ) Sub-recipient ( ) n/a
Additional Information:
body
WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Green Acres Program (“State”), is providing grants through the Urban Parks Initiative to promote urban parks; and
WHEREAS, the City of Newark (the “City”) desires to further the public interest by obtaining grant funding in the amount Five Hundred Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($500,000.00) from the State’s Urban Parks Initiative Grant (the “Application) (attached hereto) in order to establish a partnership between the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), the Office of Brownfield Community Redevelopment (OBCR), the City, and the Trust for Public Land (TPL) to fund the redesign of Broadway Park and develop the site into a new city park (the “Project”); and
WHEREAS, the TPL would conduct a participatory design process engaging the students at nearby Luis Munoz Marin Elementary School and Elliott Street School, as well as area residents and other interested parties in the process; and
WHEREAS, the design process is anticipated to take several months, including two (2) or three (3) community meetings and working with a landscape architect to refine initial concepts into a design that would be reviewed and approved by the Project partners; and
WHEREAS, the State shall determine if the Application is complete and conforms with the scope and intent of the Urban Parks Initiative, and notify the City of the amount of the funding award; and
WHEREAS, the City is willing to use the State’s funds in accordance with the applicable policies and laws, and is willing to enter into an agreement with the State for the above-named project; and
WHEREAS, in the event that the State’s funds are less than the total project cost of approximately $4,000,000.00 to $5,000,000.00, the City has and will provide the balance of funding necessary to complete the Project; and
WHEREAS, the City has allocated a matching share for the Project, and has determined a match, in the amount of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($500,000.00) is required.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The Mayor and/or his designee, the Director of the Department of Recreation, Cultural Affairs and Senior Services, are hereby authorized to submit an application to: (a) the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Green Acres Program to fund the redesign of Broadway Park and develop the site into a new city park, through the Urban Parks Initiative Grant; (b) provide additional application information and furnish such documents as may be required; and (c) act as the authorized correspondent of the City of Newark in its application; and
2. Upon notification of receipt of the grant award in connection with this application, the grant is hereby accepted.
3. The Mayor and/or his designee, the Director of the Department of Recreation, Cultural Affairs and Senior Services, are hereby authorized to execute an agreement and any amendment thereto with the State for the Project, to receive and expend the grant award for the purpose of the redesign of Broadway Park to develop the site into a new city park.
4. Upon notification of the receipt of a grant award in connection with this application, the Director of the Department of Recreation, Cultural Affairs and Senior Services shall submit a complete copy of the grant agreement, any amendment thereto, and any associated documents to both the Corporation Counsel and the Business Administrator for review, approval and signature.
5. The City has allocated matching funds for the Project, if a match is required, in the amount of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($500,000.00) and shall be provided from the Municipal Budget Account Name: Open Space Trust; Account #: 02632720; Budget Year 2021.
6. The City agrees to comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations in its performance of the Project; and
7. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This resolution authorizes the Mayor and/or his designee, the Director of the Department of Recreation, Cultural Affairs and Senior Services, to submit an application to , accept, and enter into an agreement with the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Green Acres Program, Urban Parks Initiative for grant funding in the amount of $500,000.00 from the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Green Acres Program to redesign Broadway Park and develop the site into a new city park. Matching funds in the amount of $500,000.00, if a match is required.