The Lewisville Parks & Recreation Department gained approval Aug. 20 from the council to submit a grant application to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department to develop the Valley Vista Nature Park. It will be located at the corner of Valley Parkway and Corporate Drive across from Thrive, the city’s new multigenerational center.

The total maximum funds available through the grant program is $500,000 with a 100 percent matching requirement.

City staff said matching funds are available through the 4B sales tax fund, which is .25 percent of the total 8.25 percent sales tax Lewisville residents pay.

The estimated cost to build the park is $2.3 million. City staff said as this exceeds grant and matching funds currently available, the development of the park will be phased. Phase 1 will focus on primary trails, passive recreation and education areas, natural landscaped areas and wayfinding/interpretive signage.

Phase 2 of the project will include the secondary trails, natural playscapes and viewing tower. Once matching funds are identified, the department will work to submit another grant application to TPWD or other funding sources to complete the site plan.

If awarded, the site will be dedicated as park land, and work on the site can begin as early as June 2019.