5B1 Budget Request (Kennedy Park Improvements) - Signed

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South Bend Redevelopment Commission 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Room 301, South Bend, Indiana Redevelopment Commission Agenda Item DAT E : March 26th, 2026 FROM: Patrick Sherman Director of Project Management SUBJECT: Budget Request- Kennedy Park Funding Source* (circle) River West; River East; South Side; Douglas Road; West Washington; RDC General; Riv. East Res. *Funds are subject to the City Controller's determination of availability; if funds are unavailable, as solely determined by the City Controller, then the authorization of the expenditure of such funds shall be void and of no effect. PURPOSE OF REQUEST: This budget request is for a total of $1.5M for the renovation and improvement of Kennedy Park. This budget request will enable the City to leverage additional monies made available by DNR from the ORLP grant to ensure the City can realize the desired scope of the project. SPECIFICS: The City of South Bend will renovate Kennedy Park by renovating and expanding an aquatics facility, developing an accessible connective trail system and sidewalks within the park, replacing playground equipment, conducting naturalized redevelopment of an existing oak grove, replacing athletic courts, fields and amenities, installing additional exterior lighting, replacing a parking lot, and adding picnic sites and a shelter. The Department of Venues Parks & Arts successfully secured a competitive Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) grant through the (DNR) in the amount of $7.5 million. The City identified the required $7.5 million in matching funds to support the project. However, as the project advanced to its final design phase, it became evident that the total cost to complete the entire scope would surpass the initially available funding. When the DNR was notified that the full scope could not be carried out with the current budget, the DNR emphasized their preference for the complete project to proceed and offered to provide additional funding, contingent on the City's ability to secure further matching funds. With the additional DNR funding and this TIF request, full funding will be secured for the project which is 50% funded from sources outside of the City of South Bend. It is requested that the Redevelopment commission approves $1,500,000 from River We st to match additional grant funding for the Kennedy Park Renovation Project to realize the desired scope. Thank you for your consideration of this request. ______________ ___________Pres/V-Pres ATTEST: __________ ________Secretary Date: _____________ _______ APPROVED Not Approved SOUTH BEND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION March 26, 2026 