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Leander receives grant for park

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Despite significant budget slashes that have threatened the state's grant program for Parks and Wildlife in small communities, Leander's city staff received a substantial gift from the state for the construction of the anticipated Benbrook Park project.

A board from the Texas Parks and Wildlife awarded delegates from the city staff with a $500,000 grant on Thursday morning. In all, four communities were awarded $500,000 each.

The city filled out the grant early this year to receive funds for the Benbrook Park projects, which will feature soccer fields, a baseball field, miles of walking trails, a BMX bike track and a pavilion.

Even though local governments and lobbyists begged and pleaded, the 78th Texas Legislature drastically cut grant money by $3 million, further hampering the state's grant program for parks.

Since 2003, the program, which distributes matching grant funds from sales tax on sporting goods to cities for development of parkland, has seen dramatic cuts.

Faced with a financial crisis, the Legislature has forced TPW to trim the fund from $15.5 million to $8 million in 2003 to approximately $5 million this year. The TPW slashed the grant program to a dismal $600,000, but the Legislature eventually raised that back to the current amount.

Because of the reduction, the state couldn't give out as many grants, which for many small towns is a necessary funding mechanism for parks. Seventeen cities applied for the grant, but only four were chosen. But even those four were lucky.

"We were very worried," Leander Mayor John Cowman said. "But this is what we wanted."

On Thursday, the board debated distributing the $2 million amongst the 17 eligible applicants, thus substantially reducing Leander's cut. A scary thought considering that Leander Mayor John Cowman and City Manager Biff Johnson went to the meeting fully expecting to leave with excitement and the promise of a half million dollars.

But Cowman got up and spoke about the necessity of providing the full amount to Benbrook Park and the board chose to give his wish.

"He gave a very eloquent speech and I felt like he swayed the board," Johnson said.

Until recently, Leander was parkless. But thanks to a renewed focus on quality of life and the passing of a $12 million bond package that was approved by voters last May, Leander has four parks in the works.

However, the $2.96 million appropriated for parks won't cover all the costs of four new parks, said Jim Bechtol, Leander's director of community development. Any new projects or additional funding would have to come from the state.

Benbrook, which will span more than 100 acres, will also include disc golf, hike and bike trails, a wetlands preservation area, a nature interpretive area and possibly a skate park. Benbrook will be the head of Williamson County's Heritage Trail, which spans throughout various sites in the area including Leander and Cedar Park.

The bond gave $300,000 for Benbrook's construction, which will begin this year. The grant will cover the rest of the construction cost.

Leander last received state park funds in 1989 for a $400,000 matching grant for City Park, the city's first park.

Leander on TV

Fox 7 News picked Leander to headline its new weekly series "Home Town Fridays", a look into small towns around the area. Each newscast today (beginning with 5 a.m. telecast) will feature an story about Leander. Coverage will end with the high school football showdown between the Leander Lions and Austin's Westlake Chaparrals.

Contact Frank Flaton at 259-4449 or by e-mail at frank@hillcountrynews.com.

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Published 8/26/05

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