Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) had dangled the carrot in front of the Helotes City Council for months... a $1.125 million dollar matching grant for park development. But sources say the city couldn't get anything together in time to make it happen.
At the 11th hour, a proposal was presented to some councilmembers, for acquiring a piece of property adjacent to the city. But with a December deadline fast approaching, it was too little, too late.
The problem that surfaces with these sweet state and/or federal grant deals is this: As enticing as the grants may be, they carry with them some specific criteria that need to be met.
One of the criteria was matching funds, something small communities are having a hard time amassing. More than $1 million dollars just doesn't jump into tiny, city coffers.
City officials want a park development for this growing Northwest side bedroom town.
Local ecologists and "green activists" are clamoring for one.
So, look toward 2009 for a more serious attempt at some serious space where children and their moms will play.
