WHEREAS, Pittsfield Township supports the submission of an application titled, “Montibeller Park Improvements” to the Land and Water Conservation Fund for development of an aggregate trail along Paint Creek, pickleball courts, improved tennis courts, and supporting amenities at Montibeller Park, in accordance with the improvement plan approved by the Township Board of Trustees on January 22, 2020; and

WHEREAS, the Pittsfield Township Park Commission recommended the adoption of the Resolution to support the submission of a Land and Water Conservation Fund Application by the Pittsfield Township Board of Trustees; and

WHEREAS, after conducting a number of public engagement processes, the township has a good understanding of Pittsfield Township residents’ priorities, with a desire to maintain and improve existing parks as one of the top priorities, thus creating a public need for the proposed improvements; and

WHEREAS, improving trails and the existing pavilion at Montibeller Park were the top priorities for the park during the public engagement processes; and

WHEREAS, Pittsfield Township will use $1.0 million from the Park Millage Fund for improvements to Montibeller park during fiscal year 2020, which include improving the pavilion and supporting amenities, and is proposing an additional $600,000 in improvements for fiscal year 2021, of which $300,000 is being requested through the Land and Water Conservation Fund and $300,000 is to be funded through the Park Millage Fund; and

WHEREAS, the proposed application is supported by the Township’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan, adopted by the Township Board of Trustees on February 22, 2017; and

WHEREAS, Pittsfield Township is hereby making a financial commitment to the project in the amount of $300,000 matching funds from the Park Millage Fund for the Land and Water Conservation grant contingent upon the Park Commission’s inclusion of the said amount ($300,000) in its FY 2021 Budget;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Pittsfield Township Board of Trustees hereby authorizes the submission of a Land and Water Conservation Fund Application for a grant request of $300,000, and further resolves to make available its financial obligation amount of $300,000 (50%) through the Park Millage Fund, to be budgeted by the Park Commission in its FY 2021 Budget, of a total $600,000 grant application project cost, during the 2021 fiscal year.