LCRA, Bluebonnet Electric Co-op award $20,700 grant for community park

​​​​​Local Communities
LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative representatives present a $20,700 grant to the Dime Box Lions Foundation for the creation of a public park. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. Pictured, from left to right, are Carol Richardson, Dime Box Lions Club member; Joyce Lerche, club member; Carol Dismukes, club secretary; Jan Perry, club president; Russell Jurk, Bluebonnet director; Sharon Brown, club treasurer; Roger Wubbenhorst, club program chairman; Barbara Hoover, club member; Brandon Scott, Leo club trustee; Patti Adcock, club member; Mark Johnson, Bluebonnet business development team member; Katie Guynes, Leo club president; Lori A. Berger, LCRA Board member; and Kassidy Aguilar, Leo club historian.

Construction on the first community park in Dime Box can begin, thanks to a $20,700 community development grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative.

The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $5,405 in matching contributions, will allow the Dime Box Lions Foundation to begin the first phase of a park centered around the town’s historic Black Bridge.

Plans for the park began in 1998, when the Dime Box Lions Club had the opportunity to save the bridge, an iron railroad bridge that spanned the town’s railroad tracks. The group spent the next 20 years acquiring land, moving the bridge to its current location and raising money for what will become the Black Bridge Park.

“It’s exciting to see something you’ve worked toward for 20 years coming to fruition,” said Barbara Hoover, a longtime member and past president of the Dime Box Lions Club. “The people in town are excited about it and looking forward to us completing the park.”

The grant will fund the first phase of development, which includes restoring the bridge and repainting it black and building four covered picnic shelters on concrete slabs. Future phases will include constructing an entertainment stage, fitness course, walking trails and landscaping.

Hoover envisions the park one day being used for community events like the popular Black Bridge Festival, or for personal enjoyment by the town’s residents and their visitors. 

“We are very grateful to the LCRA for providing this grant to our community,” Hoover said.

The community grant is one of a number of grants recently awarded through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. The program provides economic development and community assistance grants to cities, counties, volunteer fire departments, regional development councils and other nonprofit organizations in LCRA’s wholesale electric and water service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves. Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and a partner in the grant program.

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted Jan. 1-31, 2019. More information is available at
lcra.org/cdpp.

About LCRA
​The Lower Colorado River Authority serves customers and communities throughout Texas by managing the lower Colorado River; generating and transmitting electric power; providing a clean, reliable water supply; and offering access to nature at more than 40 parks, recreation areas and river access sites along the Texas Colorado River, from the Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. LCRA and its employees are committed to enhancing the lives of Texans through water stewardship, energy and community services. LCRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1934. For more information, visit
lcra.org.

About Bluebonnet
Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative is one of the largest electric cooperatives in Texas and has been serving its members since 1939. Bluebonnet serves more than 98,000 meters, and owns and maintains 11,600 miles of power lines, located across more than 3,800 square miles within 14 Central Texas counties. Bluebonnet’s service area stretches from Travis County to Washington County, and from Milam County to Gonzales County. For more information about Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative, go to
bluebonnet.coop and follow the co-op on Facebook and Twitter.

Media Contacts

LCRA:

Clara Tuma 512–578–3292
clara.tuma@lcra.org

Bluebonnet:

Will Holford 512-332-7955
will.holford@bluebonnet.coop


Source: LCRA Business News

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