City Council has authorized the parks department to pursue county grant funding for additions to Breckinridge Trail.

The grant will be applied for under Collin County’s Parks & Open Space Project Funding Assistance Program, which started in 1999. The program helps cities in the county add to and renovate parks, trails and other open spaces. Since 2003, county residents have approved $38 million in bonds to fund over 173 projects.

Richardson is no stranger to these grants, Director of Richardson Parks & Recreation Director Lori Smeby said.

“We’ve had some great success with combining county money with our money to build some great projects,” Smeby said.

Since 2001, Richardson has received over $1.25 million in grant funding through the program. This has helped pay for Spring Creek and University trails, to name a few. A resolution approved by council on June 10 authorized the parks department to apply for a $250,000 grant to put toward Breckinridge Trail additions.

The grant requires a local match, so the city will use $250,000 of the $560,000 it has left in general obligation funds, Smeby said.

Funding will be devoted to improving two segments of trail. The first will allow for safe crossing under Renner Road by connecting Ruth Back Toler Park to Breckinridge Park.



The second segment will allow for continuous access to Breckinridge Park by connecting parking lots on Moroney and Beck drives.



The grant application will be submitted to Collin County in early July, and grant awards will be announced in October. If awarded, construction on the project will begin within six months.