Brandon Twp.- Township officials learned this week they can expect a windfall soon.
The Department of Natural Resources has recommended that the township receive a Land and Water Conservation Fund development grant for $75,000, the maximum amount given, to be used at the Brandon Township Community Park, 1414 N. Hadley Road. The township was one of seven communities recommended to be awarded grants through the program for 2008.
‘This is a huge award for the township,? said Supervisor Ron Lapp. ‘I am absolutely delighted. It’s one of the first grants we’ve received outside of forestry grants.?
The township will match the grant with $75,000, using both in-kind services and cell tower revenue. The grant will be used at the park to construct a handicap-accessible lift station and lighting for the sledding hill, a boundless accessible playground, and a handicap-accessible trailway.
Prior to the grant being awarded, the DNR must receive formal approval from the National Park Service and the township must enter into a project agreement with the DNR. The grant is good for two years.
‘We were struggling about how we would continue to bring this project to fruition and we’re very attuned to the fact that this will be a handicap-accessible park,? Lapp said. ‘This was a lot of hard work by the recreation department.?
Recreation Programmer Diane Lapp wrote the grant application and its approval means phase one of the park, which included four multi-purpose fields and a tree library, is one step closer to completion.
The grand opening of the park was in May, and soccer was played on fields at the park this spring.
‘This is the first large grant of this size ever received by the recreation department,? said Diane Lapp. ‘We are absolutely very excited to be able to go forward with this and provide this for the community without a millage. We’re working hard to get as many recreational opportunities available to the community as possible.?