Parks staff to apply for state grant to build Bear Trap shelter; board seeks cost estimates

Parks staff told the Natrona County Parks Board that staff will apply to a state outdoor recreation fund for at least one shelter at Bear Trap, aiming to keep the request under the $200,000 threshold that triggers legislative review.

"The way that grant works is if your request is under two thou $200,000, it doesn't require legislature review," Michael said while outlining the 40/60 match requirement and noting the fund totals about $2 million and will be highly competitive.

Staff said the immediate plan is to prioritize the east shelter because it would be the easiest to build and would keep the application under the legislative-review threshold; the board could pursue more shelters if it can assemble matching funds. Staff will gather firm cost estimates before the early-April application deadline and decide whether to pursue a single-shelter application or request a larger package that may require additional approvals.

The board noted that absent a finalized lease or property transfer from the city, its ability to undertake or commit to construction on some city-owned sites remains limited. Michael said staff will check on any needed letters of support and coordinate with collaborative partners before filing the application.

Next steps: staff will return with cost estimates and a recommended application package for the board to consider before the fund's application window closes.