SUBJECT:
Title
A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Erie Approving Two 2024 Colorado Parks and Wildlife Non-Motorized Trails Grant Applications
Body
DEPARTMENT: Parks & Recreation
Department
PRESENTER(S): Luke Bolinger, Director of Parks & Recreation
First Name Last Name, Title
POLICY ISSUES:
This resolution commits the Town to certain actions if the Town is awarded the grant.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Adopt the resolution approving Two 2024 Colorado Parks and Wildlife Non-Motorized Trails Grant Applications
End
SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND OF SUBJECT MATTER:
The Erie Singletrack Trails at Sunset Open Space offers 3.15 miles of trails that cater to riders seeking a downhill riding experience with rollers, jumps, and tabletops. Located north of WCR 6 and west of WCR 5, this regional amenity offers tracks for all skill levels designated as either beginner, intermediate, or advanced. The singletrack trail network is built on Town-owned open space offering fantastic views of the Front Range.
To the north of Erie Singletracks is the Sunset development, a 250-lot single family home development. As part of the development, the developer is constructing a 10’ wide trail connection on the west side of the development that will terminate at the northern edge of Town’s property. The development is also dedicating a 3.5-acre tract for a future skills area to compliment the Erie Singletrack Trails. To the east of Erie Singletrack Trails across from WCR 5, the Westerly development, an approximately 1,700-unit development, is constructing a 10’ wide trail connection through open space and eventually connect to the proposed neighborhood park, school site at Westerly, and the future underpass at Erie Parkway.
Knowing the need for the proposed connections are imminent, staff engaged Kimley-Horn Associates, one of the Town’s on-call firms, to begin preliminary design of key trail connections and improvements to the Erie Singletrack Trails area. These improvements include:
• A trail connection to the west along WCR 6. This connection will be a safer alternative to using WCR 6;
• Completing the trail from the southern end of Sunset all the way to the intersection of WCR 5 and WCR 6;
• An at grade or underpass crossing at the intersection of WCR 5 and WCR 6;
• A connection to the Sunset sidewalk along WCR 5;
• Design of a 3.5-acre skills area as part of the Sunset development and;
• Improvement to the existing Erie Singletracks parking area.
These improvements will not only enhance access to the well-loved regional amenity, Erie Singletrack Trails, and create new opportunities for users, but also improve pedestrian access between Erie Highlands, Sunset, and Westerly, avoiding trails that lead to dead ends. Staff have been collaborating with both the Westerly and Sunset developments on cost-sharing opportunities and will continue to do so.
To help fund this project, Town staff are actively pursuing a 2024 Colorado Parks and Wildlife Non-Motorized Trails Grant for Construction and Maintenance. In addition to the Construction & Maintenance application, staff are also seeking a Planning and Support grant to initiate preliminary design of a 10-foot-wide concrete path that will connect the Coal Creek Regional Trail east through Sunset West Multi-Use Trails, eventually linking to the new path along WCR 6.
These programs require applicants to submit a resolution of support from the governing body, demonstrating the commitment of resources and support for each project.
In the 2024 budget, the Town has an available $2.5M for trail connector projects, which is sufficient to cover the 25% match required for each project, which is $493,384 for the Construction and Maintenance project and $23,000 for the Planning and Support project. These amounts are based on current opinions of probable project costs provided by Kimley-Horn this year: $1.9M for the Construction and Maintenance project and $92,000 for the Planning and Support project.
The application requests funding for work staff plan to complete in 2025-2026. If awarded, the Town will have two years to complete both projects.
The resolution must include the following:
• Support for the proposed projects and applications.
• Acknowledgement that the Town is responsible for the expenditure of funds required to meet the terms and obligations of the grant agreements and applications.
• A statement authorizing a designated official to sign the grant agreements if the grants are awarded.
• A statement confirming the Town’s ability to complete the specific transactions that will be necessary to accomplish the projects.
TOWN COUNCIL PRIORITY(S) ADDRESSED:
ü Attractive Community Amenities
ü Engaged and Diverse Community
ü Prosperous Economy
ü Well-Maintained Transportation Infrastructure
ü Small Town Feel
ü Safe and Healthy Community
ü Fiscally Responsible
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Resolution