HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998 Saratoga Trail Grant ProgramSaratoga Trail Grant Program
History and Purpose
The Saratoga Parks & Recreation Commission, appointed by the Saratoga City Council,
has worked diligently toward the implementation of a Parks & Trails Master Plan which
will serve the park and recreational needs of our community. Our goal is to acquire,
develop, and maintain a system of parks, trails, bicycle lanes, recreational facilities, and
park-related community service facilities which meet the needs of Saratoga's residents.
In 1990, the City of Saratoga commissioned a study for the preparation of a Parks &
Trails Master Plan. This plan was completed by Wallace, Roberts & Todd in November
1991, and was subsequently approved by the City Council. This plan provides a
framework for the City's actions in implementing a recreation system which will serve
all ages and sections of the Saratoga's population. The very lengthy Master Plan is
available for all Saratogans to view at City Hall. The Parks & Trails Master plan is a
comprehensive document which includes recommendations for active parks and play
fields, passive parks, as well as pedestrian, multi- use trails, and bicycle trails and
pathways.
In June of 1996, the Commission held a very well attended community workshop to
determine an updated priority list for the expenditure of the Park Development Fund.
Trail improvements were one of the items that was on the priority list and that the
Commission is dedicated to improving. The Trail Grant Program is being established to
address the need for trail improvements at a time when there are insufficient funds
available to maintain existing trails and create new trails.
In the past, volunteer groups have approached the City and volunteered their time to
clean up certain portions of a trials. The City would then supply the volunteer group
with the necessary materials for the improvement project. The Commission felt that by
formalizing this process, it would encourage more residents to volunteer their time to
make improvements to the trails that they most use.
The Trail Grant Process
Pr~osal Requirements
The grant proposal submitted to the Parks & Recreation Commission should address the
following items:
• Description of the agency or group (background)
• Highlight or describe the area or trails that the agency would like to improve
• Their experience in improving or creating trails
• What can the agency offer that is unique to this job?
• Number of (trail) users that would benefit from the proposed improvement
• Itemized budget of project
• Has this need been addressed by the City's Parks & Trails Master plan?
• Timeline for the proposed project
• What area of Saratoga is it serving.
Evaluation Criteria
In evaluating the grant proposal, the Parks & Recreation Commission will take into
consideration the following criteria:
• Alignments & linkages of and to existing trails to Saratoga, Mid-Peninsula Open
Space & Santa Clara County Trails.
• Will it encourage additional traffic/bodies off busy city streets?
• Does it improve the safety of the existing trail or trail area?
• Does it keep multi-use trails open?
• Does it provide additional signs identifying the trail?
• What percentage of the Community is benefiting from this project?
Submittal Process
The Parks and Recreation Commission meets the first Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m.
at the City Hall Administrative Offices. All grant proposals submitted to the
Commission will be agendized and discussed at a regular commission meeting. In
order to have the grant proposal included in a commission packet, the agency must
submit nine copies of its proposal to City Hall no later than 5:00 p.m. on the third
Monday of the month. Since the Commission may have follow-up questions about the
submitted proposal, agencies are asked that a member of the organization be present at
the commission meeting when their proposal is discussed. Ag"encies are requested to
allow two to three weeks time in order to receive a response to their proposal.
Depending upon the scope of the project will determine whether or not the
recommendation to approve the project will need to be forwarded to the City Council
for approval.
Trail Grant Information
A Saratoga Trails Grant Brochure, containing information about the Trails Grant
Program is available to all interested parties by contacting;
Saratoga City Hall
c/o Irene Jacobs, Senior Administrative Analyst
13777 Fruitvale Avenue
Saratoga, CA 95070
(408) 868-1215
e-mail: Saratoga@STATENET.com
9/98