| City Council seeks grant to improve Kids' Castle |
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By: CHRISTIAN GRANTHAM, Post Contributor
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Posted: Friday, August 13, 2010 12:41 pm
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The Murfreesboro City Council approved Thursday night a $200,000 matching grant application for needed renovations of the Kids' Castle at Old Fort Park.
The unanimous vote to approve the application followed much discussion on matching up to a $200,000 grant in the middle of layoffs and tough economic times.
"That area is getting to the point where if we don't do something that lyincludes a total renovation we won't be able to patch it any longer," said Assistant Park and Recreation Director Angela Jackson.
The Kids' Castle was originally built 15 years ago by volunteers. Over the years, Parks and Recreation has been boarding up sections in need of repair or removing them all together. The area is extremely popular with residents.
"As I drive by the golf course it is one of the most utilized features at the park consistently," Mayor Tommy Bragg shared with councilmembers. "I think it's a tremendous benefit."
Commissioners Toby Giley and Madelyn Scales Harris raised concerns over spending up to $200,000 as the city lays off employees.
"We just had a budget where we asked city employees to bear with us and wait until February or so to see how revenues are," said Giley. "And now we're looking at spending this money on playgrounds when kids are getting back to school and the play season has passed."
Harris recounted working on the playground as a volunteer and cited the importance of providing the community the family-friendly space but echoed budget concerns.
"I'd like to see us hold off until February until we see where our revenue is," said Harris. "I understand the grant, but like this grant came around, maybe another one will come around."
City Manager Rob Lyons put the matching grant in terms of an investment.
"One of the things we've seen with this down economy is that our parks provide free recreation for the community," Lyons said. "And so with that, folks are spending more time in our parks and enjoying our parks more, and we see this as an asset contributing to our community for a long time."
Murfreesboro City Attorney Susan Emery McGannon assured skeptical city councilmembers the city didn't have to spend $200,000 and could decide at a later date once the funds were granted.
Mayor Bragg asked fellow councilmembers to act now rather than allow budget concerns and politics to play a role.
"I think it's a bit disingenuous to apply for a grant and say that we'll worry about this at some other time," Mayor Bragg said. "The council I think ought to go on record that we're willing to commit this money now or we're not going to go ahead with the grant."
The City Council also approved awarding a low bid on a Stones River Greenway extension to Curl Construction & Excavating LLC.
The bid was for $512,931.12. The project is funded 80 percent by the federal government with the city of Murfreesboro picking up 10 percent of the cost.
Construction will take 110 days and is estimated to be complete by the end of January 2011.
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