Title
NFL Foundation Grassroots Grant Application for Choice Neighborhoods (Ordinance S-43956)
Description
Request authorization for the City Manager, or his designee, to apply for, accept, and enter into agreements for up to $250,000 in grant funds from the National Football League (NFL) Foundation Grassroots Program to add new athletic playing fields at, or near, Edison Park located within the Edison-Eastlake Choice Neighborhoods Community. Authorization is also requested for the City Treasurer to accept, and the City Controller to disburse funds for the life of the grant.
Report
Summary
The Housing Department is seeking to apply for a $250,000 grant from the NFL Foundation Grassroots Program. If awarded, the funds will be used to build new, quality, safe, and accessible athletic playing fields at, or near, Edison Park located within the Edison-Eastlake Choice Neighborhoods (CN) Community.
In June 2016, the City was awarded a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) CN Planning and Action Grant to conduct a comprehensive neighborhood planning and community engagement process. Within the CN boundaries lie three Public Housing sites: Frank Luke Homes, A.L. Krohn Homes, and Sidney P. Osborn. The CN Grant focuses on creating a redevelopment plan for these three sites as well as a plan to catalyze critical neighborhood improvements, provide services for individuals and families, and improve outcomes for youth. As learned through the Edison-Eastlake CN Community Resident Leadership Council and over 300 Public Housing resident surveys, access to recreational spaces for physical activity are among the top needs of the community. New athletic playing fields would provide new physical fitness options and sports programming for kids in a high poverty community.
As part of the CN effort, the City's Parks and Recreation Department committed $250,000 from its Fiscal Year 2017-18 Capital Improvement Program Funds to make park improvements at Edison Park. These improvements will be implemented in 2018 based on resident input from a Park Charrette held in April 2017. The Housing Department has also secured a one-for-one $250,000 match from the Phoenix Residential Investment Development Effort (PRIDE), to assist with this grant opportunity. Together, these funds will provide leverage for the NFL Foundation Grassroots Program grant. The grant application is due on Oct. 16, 2017.
If awarded, the Housing Department, in partnership with the Parks and Recreation Department, the Phoenix Parks Foundation, and PRIDE, will utilize the NFL Foundation Grassroots Program grant funds to build new, quality, safe, and accessible athletic playing fields at, or near, Edison Park. By leveraging concurrent CN efforts, this grant opportunity will reach an underserved population and provide much needed sports amenities, in addition to promoting youth sports safety and community programming on the fields.
Financial Impact
There is no impact to the General Fund. The Parks and Recreation Department committed $250,000 from its Fiscal Year 2017-18 Capital Improvement Program Funds. In addition, PRIDE, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, will provide up to $250,000 in one-for-one matching funds as required by the grant.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
This item was heard at the Sustainability, Housing, Efficiency, and Neighborhoods Subcommittee on Sept. 19, 2017, and approval was recommended by a vote of 4-0.
Location
The Edison-Eastlake CN Community is bounded by 16th Street on the west, Interstate 10 freeway on the north and east, and the Union Pacific Railroad on the south.
Council District: 8
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Deanna Jonovich and the Housing and Parks and Recreation departments.