Earle makes second round in park grant push

Earle makes second round in park grant push

City in the running for $ 50,000 in FUN funds

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Earle has advanced to the second round in its bid to obtain a $50,000 grant to improve the walking trail around the community center.

Mayor Sherman Smith told the City Council that he received a letter informing him that the city has made the final cut for the grant.

“We have been invited to participate in the second portion, which means we are in the running,” Smith said.

The city applied in August for a Facilities for Underdeveloped Neighborhoods – or FUN grant – through Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism to turn the area around walking trail into a more park-like setting.

FUN grants are targeted for areas of the state which lack park amenities. The money helps assist cities in developing basic neighborhood outdoor recreational facilities.

The city is hoping to use the money to add more trees and landscaping, along with benches, playground equipment, and a pavilion to make the area more welcoming and user friendly.

The community center is located on Hwy. 64 and has been recently renovated and is seeing more use by residents.

Smith said they are scheduled to meet with the committee making the decision this morning 9:40 a.m. in Jacksonville to explain the project and answer any questions.

“We have to go make a pitch on our project before the committee, which is a good thing,” Smith said. “If you weren’t in the running, you wouldn’t be invited.”

Smith said the city scored all 4’s, which is the highest score, in all but two categories for a total of 20 points.

The city missed out on points which are given to cities with populations under 1,250 and 500, and only got two points each on handicap accessibility and for not having received any grants in the last ten years.

They got 4’s for having clear title to the land, evidence of community outreach, having price quotes from contractors, and for having engaged an engineer on the project.

“We had a really good application,” Smith said.

Smith said the fact that they held several public meetings with different groups in the community to solicit ideas about the park

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before they had the main public hearing really helped their application.

About 20 residents showed up for the first meeting and they had about 15 senior citizens attend a second meeting and give feedback.

“I preach how important that (community involvement) is all the time in grant writing,” Smith said. “Those sign in sheets and minutes really helped us show community engagement. They really want to see that you had pubic meetings.”

By Mark Randall