DEPARTMENT: Parks
FILE TYPE: Regular Action
TITLE
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Authorization To Submit Grant Applications To Metropolitan Council’s Regional Parks And Trails System Competitive Equity Grant Program
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RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council Competitive Equity Grant program provides funding to regional park agencies for projects that will strengthen equitable usage of regional parks and trails by all of the region’s residents, across age, race, ethnicity, income, national origin, and ability; and
WHEREAS, the 2027 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) was released on September 24, 2026, and describes the Metropolitan Council’s intentions for the Regional Parks and Trails System Competitive Equity Grant Program in 2027; and
WHEREAS, $8,000,000 is available to regional park agencies for competitive, non-capital and capital projects; and
WHEREAS, agencies may submit up to four applications, and no individual grant shall be less than $100,000 or more than $1,000,000; and
WHEREAS, applications must be received by November 30, 2026, and notice of funding will be announced in March 2027; and
WHEREAS, staff has reviewed the funding criteria and proposes submission of four applications: 1) Parks Without Barriers: An Outdoor Accessibility Initiative; 2) Field to Future: School Partnerships and Programming; 3) Belonging by Design: Public Art for Welcoming Spaces; 4) Connecting Cultures: Foraging, Land, and Language.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby supports and authorizes the submission of four applications to the Metropolitan Council’s Regional Parks and Trails System Competitive Equity Grant Program: 1) Parks Without Barriers: An Outdoor Accessibility Initiative for up to $500,000; 2) Field to Future: School Partnerships and Programming for up to $250,000; 3) Belonging by Design: Public Art for Welcoming Spaces for up to $390,000; 4) Connecting Cultures: Foraging, Land, and Language for up to $430,000; an...
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