Platte County Commissioners this week have approved more than $185,000 in grant funding through the county’s half-cent parks sales tax.
Director of parks and recreation Daniel Erickson told commissioners at the Monday, March 18 administrative session that this year 22 of the 29 applications for Parks and Recreation Outreach grants were funded. The county may award up to $250,000 for Outreach grants and this year received almost $400,000 in requests. Agreement documents will now be sent to the municipalities and organizations awarded for final approval.
The City of Platte City received two grants in this cycle, and the largest single award was to the Weston Historical Museum.
Grants have been awarded to:
Camden Point Athletic Association for improvements to the community building, $14,633
City of Edgerton for the final phase of its municipal walking trail, $20,000
City of Parkville for shade structures at Platte Landing Park’s dog parks, $12,000
City of Platte City for two projects, bleachers and shade structures at Harrel Ferrel Park, $16,000 total
City of Riverside for pickleball courts at E.H. Young Riverfront Park, $15,000
Kansas City Parks and Recreation for signage and markers on the trail at Mark McHenry Park, formerly Tiffany Springs Park, $17,600
Friends of Parkville Nature Sanctuary for interpretive exhibit signage in the sanctuary, $5,692
The Farmer’s House for a community courtyard in downtown Platte City, $15,316
City of Camden Point for a city park improvement project, $6,375
City of Northmoor for city park improvements, $8,092
Platte Land Trust for signage, $300
Platte County Historical Society for HVAC improvements at the Ben Ferrel Museum, $2,734
Weatherby Lake Historical Committee for a historical marker at the community center, $2,500
Weston Historical Museum for an ADA compliant restroom, $29,750
American Legion Post 318 for the Dust Bowl Jamboree, $4,420
Burroughs Audubon Society for Wings Over Weston, $1,219
Midwest Adaptive Sports for youth programs, $4,820
Platte City Friends of the Arts for the 20th anniversary outdoor concert series, $1,200
Northland Community Choir for the Banneker Foundation Concert, $1,000
Platte County Sports Commission for a youth sports clinic, $4,040
University of Missouri Extension Council for the Platte County Youth Explorer series, $3,100
Erickson said one grant from the YMCA for drainage work at the Challenger sports field was postponed as the application was for a pricey temporary fix instead of a permanent solution. The application asked for $37,000, to be matched by an equal amount from YMCA. A permanent solution to the problem is expected to cost more than $100,000.
Presiding commissioner Ron Schieber commended Erickson for looking for the long-term solution and said with money still in reserve the county may be able to better contribute to a future permanent repair project at the field.
Also at the meeting, the commission approved five grant applications for the Platte County Sheriff’s Office, totaling more than $160,000 in grant funding. The grants, if awarded, would help fund DWI enforcement programs and other special enforcement endeavors.