Collin County Commissioners approved a timeline for its Parks and Open Space Project Funding Assistance Program during a meeting April 4. That program will award $2 million to cities and non-profit organizations within Collin County in 2022 to assist with park land acquisition, trail construction and park/open space improvements, according to the county website.

A press release about the program and electronic copies of its application packet will be distributed on April 18, according to the timeline approved by commissioners. Applications for funding will then be due by 4 p.m. July 11 and the Parks Foundation Advisory Board will review applications in August and September. The timeline states a funding recommendation will then be made to the Commissioners Court in October.

The timeline was approved unanimously by the court, though Commissioner Cheryl Williams was absent from the meeting. The program is funded through a $10 million bond proposition approved by voters in 2018, according to the county website.

Before the agenda item was approved by the court, Commissioner Darrell Hale suggested that county staff consider hosting an informational meeting to allow cities and nonprofits the opportunity to ask questions about the program and better understand which kinds of projects should take priority.

"Obviously, the [county's] large cities probably have much larger staff [sizes] and they're more comfortable doing things just completely electronically, but a lot of times the smaller cities wouldn't mind having a face-to-face [to discuss how to] align, priority-wise with us more," Hale said.


Director of Engineering Clarence Daugherty​ said there was not currently a plan for such a meeting, but said he would look into the possibility of scheduling one for May or June.

"[Cities] are always free [to], and many of them do, contact the staff to find out answers to questions that they've got," Daugherty said.