Title
AUTHORITY TO AMEND AN EXISTING GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE COORDINATION OF
THE BLOOMINGDALE TRAIL CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND STEWARDSHIP PROJECT
Body
To: The Honorable Board of Commissioners of the Chicago Park District
I. Recommendation
It is recommended that the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners authorize the extension of the term and amendment of the existing challenge grant agreement with The Trust for Public Land, dated September 20, 2010 and subsequently amended on August 8, 2012. This grant agreement is for the purpose of implementing and coordinating the Bloomingdale Trail Civic Engagement and Stewardship Project. It is also recommended that the Board authorize the General Superintendent to negotiate and enter into a donation agreement in connection with the Grant.
II. Agreement Information
Grantee: The Trust for Public Land, a California nonprofit corporation
120 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 2000
Chicago, Illinois 60603
Agreement Type: Grant Agreement
Project Scope Extend the term and amend the challenge grant agreement for implementation and coordination of the Bloomingdale Trail Civic Engagement and Stewardship Project. The Project consists of the following components: development and implementation of strategies for civic engagement, sponsorship and public programming, federal affairs and technical assistance, stewardship, and multi-agency coordination.
Authorization: Authorize the General Counsel to include other relevant terms and conditions in the written Agreement. Authorize the General Superintendent to execute the Agreement and the Secretary to attest as to the signing of the Agreement and keep an original copy of the Agreement on file.
III. Budget and Financial Information
Budget Classification: Operating and Capital Funds
Fiscal Year: 2015-2017
Source of Funds: 34.8260.8260.627030.PK081.01.01.55923
Grant Amount: Not to exceed $500,000
IV. Explanation
The Bloomingdale Line is a 2.7-mile elevated railroad right-of-way on Chicago's Northwest Side and consists of reinforced concrete retaining walls, soil, and 37 bridges where it crosses other roads. Today, railroad use of the right-of-way has virtually stopped. The Park District, in cooperation with the City of Chicago, The Trust for Public Land (TPL), and community organizations, volunteers, and donors, plans to convert the Bloomingdale Line to an elevated, multi-use linear park and trail. This infrastructure re-use project will transform a piece of Chicago's industrial heritage into an actively used recreational greenway anchoring playgrounds and park improvements at various access points along the trail.
The challenge grant agreement was authorized by the Board on June 9, 2010, commenced September 20, 2010 and terminated December 31, 2012. This agreement was amended by Board action on August 8, 2012 to extend the agreement term to August 31, 2015. It is recommended that the grant agreement be further amended to change the term to terminate on August 31, 2017. The amendment will authorize the Park District to contribute an additional $500,000.00 to be disbursed to the Trust for Public Land for their role as Project Coordinator. All other terms and conditions of the grant agreement and prior amendment remain unchanged.
The Trust for Public Land has been implementing a sustained approach to garner private philanthropy and community participation for the Bloomingdale Trail project. The Trust has worked on the project since 2006 when the City of Chicago and the Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail asked TPL to assist with land acquisition, community participation, design competitions, and the creation of the Bloomingdale Trail Collaborative intended to serve as framework for creating public and private sector partnerships for the estimated $90 million project.
The objective of the challenge grant is to build the structures necessary to raise private and government funding, coordinate, design, implementation and stewardship, and generate civic
engagement and volunteer participation in the construction, conservation, and use of the greenway.
The Trust for Public Land is a national nonprofit organization that conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, community gardens, historic sites, rural lands, and natural places. Since 1972,
TPL has worked with landowners, community groups, and national, state, and local agencies to complete close to 4,000 land conservation projects in 47 states, protecting 2.8 million acres. Since 1994, TPL has helped states and communities craft and pass over 380 ballot measures, generating $36 billion in new conservation-related funding.
V. General Conditions
1. Conflicts: No agreement authorized herein shall be legally binding on the Chicago Park District if entered into in violation of the provisions of the Public Officer Prohibited Activities Act, 50 ILCS 105/0.01 et seq.
2. Ethics: The Chicago Park District's Ethics Code, Chapter III of the Code of the Chicago Park District, shall be incorporated into and made part of all agreements authorized herein.
3. Contingent Liability: Any agreement lawfully entered into for a period of more than one year shall be executory only for the amounts for which the Park District may become liable in succeeding fiscal years pursuant to Section 17(i) of the Chicago Park District Act, 70 ILCS 1505/17(i). All agreements authorized herein shall contain a clause that any expenditure beyond the current fiscal year is subject to appropriation in the subsequent fiscal year budget.