The City of Irving is using $1 million Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to improve parks, recreation centers and sidewalks in Irving neighborhoods. These improvements were designed to help the Irving Parks and Recreation Department promote a healthy lifestyle with both kids and adults in Irving.
The grant money allowed the city to address some older infrastructure issues much sooner than originally anticipated, and city staff credits the ability to identify, build and complete projects quickly for the great success of the entire project. Watch the video to learn more.
Improvements funded by the grant money include:
- Lively Pointe Youth Center has a new roof and basketball courts. In addition, outdoor exercise equipment has been replaced on the grounds.
- Hurwitz Park received a complete playground surface renovation. The old rubber surface, which was subjected to years of use, abuse and exposure to the elements, was replaced with wood chips, which is easier for staff to maintain.
- Sunrise Park also received a new playground surface of wood chips. In addition, water fountains were replaced with new models that shut down automatically in freezing temps. Nine pieces of outdoor workout equipment to the park will be added to the park in the coming days.
- Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)-accessible doors have been installed at Lively Pointe, Senter Park Recreation Center, Georgia Farrow Recreation Center and Heritage Aquatic Center to benefit patrons of special needs programs, such as Quad Rugby at Georgia Farrow and the Therapeutic Program at Lively Pointe.
- Grants also funded construction of sidewalks in the city’s “Safe Routes to School” initiative. Initially, areas around Irving middle schools located in low-income neighborhoods are seeing repairs and new construction of sidewalks.
