Parks staff said the commission could apply for a 50/50 matching grant from TDEC to fund Trey Park improvements, but commissioners voted to pass on submitting a full application at this time.

Alicia, a parks staff member, told the Parks and Recreation Commission that the grant mirrors funding that helped build the new playground and that the county would need to match half of eligible project costs. "Essentially, it's the same grant funding that built the new playground. So it's — it's from TDEC. It's a 50/50," Alicia said, adding that the full application is due April 1 and that public meetings and a formal commission approval would be required before submission.

Commissioners discussed potential project components that could qualify — court resurfacing, lighting, walking-trail improvements and other park infrastructure — and raised concerns about scale and local cost. One commissioner said the total scope under consideration could reach about $300,000 and expressed reluctance to commit local money without more detail. Staff told the commission it was not required to fund an entire project if awarded and that the grant-award timeline would likely be announced before August.

After discussion, Commissioner Fred made a motion to "pass on this right now," which was seconded and approved by a voice vote. The motion means the commission will not direct staff to complete a full application before the April 1 deadline; staff said they would return with necessary public meetings and a formal proposal if the commission later decides to pursue the grant.

The record shows the commission discussed a previously attempted Blue Cross Blue Shield grant for related park work; Alicia said the current TDEC application would largely mirror the earlier proposal that did not receive funding. The commission also noted that master-plan updates and other planning tasks (a $50,000 master-plan update was mentioned) often factor into eligibility or readiness for these grants.

Commissioners requested additional cost estimates and clarity on which park elements would be included before revisiting whether to apply. Staff said postponing now would preserve the option to apply in a later round.

The vote to decline moving forward with the April 1 application was recorded as a voice vote; no roll-call tally was provided in the meeting minutes.