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
Entity Address: 501 East State Street, 1st Floor, Trenton, New Jersey 08625
Grant Amount: $1,000,000.00
Total Project Cost: $4,000,000.00 to $5,000,000.00
City Contribution: $1,000,000.00
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:
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WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Green Acres Program (the "State"), provides loans and/or grants to municipal and county governments and grants to nonprofit organizations for assistance in the acquisition and development of lands for outdoor recreation and conservation purposes; and
WHEREAS, the City of Newark (the "City") desires to further the public interest by obtaining grant funding through the State's Nonprofit Assistance Application for funding in the amount of One Million Dollars and Zero Cents ($1,000,000.00) (the "Application") (attached hereto) in order to establish a partnership between the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), the Office of Brownfield and Community Redevelopment (OBCR), the City, and the Trust for Public Land (TPL), in order to fund the redesign of the Broadway Park and develop the site into a new city park; 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, which would 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 in conformance with the scope and intent of the Green Acres Program, 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 such rules, regulations and applicable statues, and is willing to enter into an agreement with the State for the above-named project; and
WHEREAS, in the event 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 the balance of funding necessary to complete the project.
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: (a) make application to the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Green Acres Program for grant funds for the redesign of Broadway Park; (b) provide additional application information and furnish such documents as may be required; and (c) act as the authorized correspondent for the City of Newark in its application.
2. Upon notification of receipt of the State 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 known as The Broadway Park 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 its matching share of the project, if a match is required, in the amount of One Million Dollars and Zero Cents ($1,000,000.00) and shall be provided from the Municipal Budget Account Name: Open Space Trust; Account #: 02632720; Budget Year 2021.
6. The applicant agrees to comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations in its performance of the project.
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 for, accept, and enter into, an agreement for the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Green Acres Nonprofit Assistance Application for funding in the amount of $1,000,000.00 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 $1,000,000.00, if a match is required.