Russian River park board scrambles to spend grant

Russian River park planners are scrambling to spend $30,000 in state grant money that could expire if they don't allocate it before the end of the month.

The Russian River Recreation and Park District had proposed using the $30,000 to build a dog park in Guernewood Park, but that fell through when residents complained that it would require an unsightly fence and exacerbate summer parking problems.

"The administrators of the grant have set a timeline of the end of March," said Dana Zimmerman, chairman of the Russian River Recreation and Park District. "If we don't have everything completed and the documents submitted, payment of the grant is not guaranteed."

Now, district directors will consider whether to spend $27,000 to add handicapped-accessible parking and paths to Farnocchia Park in Rio Nido and $3,000 to add a piece of playground equipment to the J.K. Wright Playground in Guerneville.

However, Zimmerman said that the environmental documents for Farnocchia Park can't be done until April, making that project financially risky.

"The state cannot guarantee we will get the money refunded to us; the board will have to decide to take that risk," Zimmerman said.

"If the funds don't come through, we would have to come up with it out of the district budget, which we don't have."

The Russian River district had received a $202,000 grant as part of the $2.6 billion California State Parks 2002 Resources Bond Act.

It spent $170,000 renovating Wright playground, including putting in a water feature, climbing wall, play structure and playhouse, Zimmerman said.

The work is nearly completed for the playground, which opened in August. The $30,000 is what was left over from that initial grant, Zimmerman said.

The parks board will meet at 4 p.m. today at the West County Senior Resource Center in Guerneville.

"There is a chance we will scrap the $30,000 projects, but my recommendation is that we go ahead," Zimmerman said. "I think it is low risk, but the representatives at the state say the guarantee runs out the end of March."

You can reach Staff Writer

Bob Norberg at 521-5206 or bob.norberg@pressdemocrat.com.