The Foothills Park and Recreation District is hoping to secure $1 million from Jefferson County Open Space to pay for improvements at Clement Park.
Open Space presented to the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, highlighting the proposal to give Foothills $1 million — nearly three times the normal maximum amount — from the 2015 local park and recreation grants from Conservation Trust and Open Space.
The request comes with an agreement that Foothills will not ask for funds for the next three years, according to Open Space director Tom Hoby.
The money would fund improvements to the irrigation infrastructure at the park, something Foothills Park and Recreation executive director Ron Hopp said would enhance the sports fields and the lake.
“We identified that because we need to protect the revenue streams,” Hopp said, adding that the ball fields are the biggest source of revenue in the park.
The project would cost approximately $1.8 million and the district would put up an additional $1 million toward improvements at the park and apply for a Great Outdoors Colorado grant to improve a splash park.
Hopp said the $1 million that Foothills will pledge comes from the sale of the .
These improvements were part of a . Had a , Hopp said the district would have committed $5 million toward park improvements with the hope of matching that amount in grant funds.
The master plan called for $20 million to $25 million in improvements.
The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners will likely vote on the funds next month.
Joe Vaccarelli: 303-954-2396, jvaccarelli@denverpost.com or twitter.com/joe_vacc
