San Antonio Standard

Congressman Tony Gonzales has announced a $750,000 grant for the City of Del Rio aimed at renovating and developing park facilities into an all-inclusive park. The funds will be used for site work, demolition, and various construction activities, including improvements to shade structures, signage, and playground equipment. This grant was obtained through the National Park Service’s Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) State and Local Assistance Program.

“Investing in our recreational spaces is critical to the well-being of our communities. I am pleased to announce that the City of Del Rio has been selected by the National Parks Service to receive $750,000 in federal funding for the development of an all-inclusive park," said Congressman Tony Gonzales. "These investments will be enjoyed by generations to come, and I look forward to seeing the results of these funds in action.”

Last year, Congressman Gonzales secured an additional $2,062,500 through the House Appropriations Committee to fund a separate sports complex in Del Rio. This funding will soon be made available as part of a larger effort to enhance public spaces in Del Rio.

The LWCF State & Local Assistance Program provides matching grants for local and state park projects outside national park boundaries. LWCF grants are locally determined and competed at the state level through a process designed and managed by state partners. These grants help build and protect a "seamless system of parks" from backyard to back-country.

Since 1965, the National Park Service has provided more than 40,000 LWCF grants to states and local communities. LWCF funding is separate from NPS operational appropriations and comes primarily from offshore oil lease revenue through annual congressional appropriation.