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To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to accept funds in the amount of $1,000,000.00 from the National Park Service Land and Water Conservation Fund and to amend the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Special Fund Budget by creating a new special fund for the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities entitled “Broad Rock Creek Park Grant Special Fund,” and appropriating the increase to the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities’ “Broad Rock Creek Park Grant Special Fund” by $1,000,000.00 for the purpose of providing funding for improving access to and installing amenities at Broad Rock Creek Park.
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THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. That the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, is hereby authorized to accept funds in the amount of $1,000,000.00 from the National Park Service Land and Water Conservation Fund for the purpose of providing funding for improving access to and installing amenities at Broad Rock Creek Park.
§ 2. That Article I, Section 2 of Ordinance No. 2025-057, adopted May 12, 2025, which adopted the Special Fund Budget for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, and made appropriations thereto, be and is hereby amended by creating a new special fund for the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities entitled “Broad Rock Creek Park Grant Special Fund” for the purpose of providing funding for improving access to and installing amenities at Broad Rock Creek Park.
§ 3. That the funds received from the National Park Service Land and Water Conservation Fund are hereby appropriated to the Special Fund Budget for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, by increasing estimated revenues by $1,000,000.00, increasing the amount appropriated for expenditures by $1,000,000.00, and allotting to the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities’ “Broad Rock Creek Park Grant Special Fund” the sum of $1,000,000.00 for the purpose of providing funding for improving access to and installing amenities at Broad Rock Creek Park.
§ 4. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.
City of Richmond
Intracity Correspondence
DATE: April 15, 2026
TO: The Honorable Members of City Council
THROUGH: The Honorable Danny Avula, Mayor
THROUGH: Odie Donald II, Chief Administrative Officer
THROUGH: Tanikia Jackson, DCAO - Finance & Administration
THROUGH: Letitia Shelton, Director of Finance
THROUGH: Meghan Brown, Director of Budget & Strategic Planning
THROUGH: Amy Popovich, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer - Human Services
FROM: Christopher E. Frelke, Director of Parks, Recreation & Community Facilities
RE: To accept $1,000,000 in grant funds from the National Park Service Land and Water Conservation Fund for the purpose of providing funding for improving access to and installing amenities at Broad Rock Creek Park.
ORD. OR RES. No.
PURPOSE: To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to accept funds in the amount of $1,000,000.00 from the National Park Service Land and Water Conservation Fund and to amend the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Special Fund Budget by creating a new special fund for the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities entitled “Broad Rock Creek Park Grant Special Fund,” and appropriating the increase to the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities’ “Broad Rock Creek Park Grant Special Fund” by $1,000,000.00 for the purpose of providing funding for improving access to and installing amenities at Broad Rock Creek Park.
BACKGROUND: Broad Rock Creek Park is one of Richmond’s newest parks. The 28.3 acre property is predominantly wooded and is located in South Richmond. Two creeks - Broad Rock
and Goode Creek - run through the park. A separate stream restoration project is being funded by DPU to address bank erosion issues and improve water quality. The park’s eastern boundary borders a CSX railway line and Dominion Energy easement. To the north, two housing communities (Brady Square and 2150 Lynhaven) are under development that will connect to the park. Residential neighborhoods are to the west and south. The park currently possesses a wood chip trail system and numerous temporary public art pieces that have been designed and installed through Virginia Community Voice’s Art, Racial Reconciliation, and Civic Advocacy (ARCA) program for youths in South Richmond.
The Project Sub-Agreement establishes that the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) dollars originate from the National Park Service (NPS) and are awarded to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) as the official “Recipient.” DCR then provides these funds to the City of Richmond as a “Subrecipient” through a pass-through subgrant. The agreement states that DCR “will pass through a subaward/subgrant to the subrecipient” and that the City is “receiving and applying the Federal LWCF funds transferred via pass-through grant procedures.” Therefore, the City is not receiving funds directly from the NPS; instead, the federal funds are first granted to the State and then distributed to the City, with NPS retaining ultimate federal oversight and approval authority.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities (PRCF) has participated in extensive, multi-year community engagement has helped shape the vision for this park. In partnership with Virginia Community Voice, youth and parents from surrounding neighborhoods have played an active role in identifying priorities and recommending the amenities they would like to see included.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL: Richmond 300, Mayoral Action Plan: Thriving Neighborhoods, A Thriving and Sustainable Built Environment
CONSIDERATION BY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES: Department of Public Works (DPW), Budget, Finance
FISCAL IMPACT / COST: In FY 2024, the City allocated $1,000,000.00 in match-funding under the category “New Park Onboarding” for this project as required by the grant.
DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon adoption
REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE: May 26, 2026
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE: June 8, 2026
REQUESTED AGENDA: Consent
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE: Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee
AFFECTED AGENCIES: PRCF, DPW, Budget, Finance
RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ORD. OR RES.: Ordinance No. 2025-057
ATTACHMENTS: Exhibit A - Grant Agreement
STAFF: Christopher Frelke, Director, PRCF
Nissa Richardson, Deputy Director, PRCF
Daniel Hazlett, Senior Management Analyst, PRCF