The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly voted unanimously Oct. 20 to appropriate a $125,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant to upgrade the Lund Street tot lot.

Action and votes: The assembly adopted Ordinance 2090, a supplemental appropriation to accept the $125,000 LWCF grant and to include the borough match in the project budget. The motion to adopt was made by Assemblymember Matson and seconded by Assemblymember Thompson; an amendment replacing a general-fund appropriation line with the specific LWCF grant source was moved and adopted (7–0) before the main motion passed on roll call 7–0.

Project details and financing: Public Works Director Morgan Berry told the assembly the total project budget is now approximately $657,600 after applying the grant and additional borough appropriations to cover higher-than-anticipated construction and equipment costs. The LWCF grant reimburses on a dollar-for-dollar match basis and has a minimum project threshold; the borough will provide the required local match out of prior appropriations.

Procurement and schedule: Berry said design services will begin within weeks and the project would likely go to bid in spring, with construction timing dependent on bids and market conditions. He also reported federal Buy America guidance had been reviewed and, for playground equipment, the interpretation received is that playgrounds are not considered infrastructure under the Build America, Buy America provisions, so the borough does not expect the more stringent Buy America requirements to apply to playground equipment procurement.

Why it matters: Assembly members said the Lund Street improvements are long-awaited in the neighborhood and will provide safer, updated play facilities. Several members praised the use of grant funds to stretch borough capital dollars.

Next steps: Staff will proceed with design procurement and bring final contracts and construction bids back to the assembly as required by borough procurement code.