It is recommended that the City Council:

1. Authorize the acceptance of a monetary gift from the Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge, Inc., in the amount of $45,000.00 for the purpose of funding architectural and engineering design plans for the restoration of the Broadview Park Picnic Area at the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge; and

2. Adopt the attached supplemental appropriation ordinance increasing estimated receipts and appropriations in the General Fund Fiscal Year 2013 Budget in the amount of $45,000.00 from available funds.

The purpose of the Mayor and Council Communication is to authorize the acceptance of a monetary gift from the Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge, Inc. (Friends), in the amount of $45,000.00 for the purpose of funding architectural and engineering design plans for the restoration of the Broadview Park Picnic Area at the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge and adopting the attached supplemental appropriation ordinance increasing estimated receipts and appropriations in the amount of $45,000.00 from available funds.

The Friends is a non-profit organization formed in 1974 to support the operation of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge (FWNC&R) through financial and in-kind contributions.

The Friends wish to donate the amount of $45,000.00 to the Parks and Community Services Department for the purpose of funding the development of architectural and engineering design plans for the restoration of the Broadview Park Picnic Area.

In the 1930's, the Civilian Conservation Corps operated a camp at Lake Worth and constructed many park amenities. The Broadview Park Picnic Area is one such amenity. The site is perched on the edge of a bluff with a commanding east facing view of upper Lake Worth and contains a large shelter, a banquet table, a water fountain, a latrine and a number of individual picnic tables scattered over several acres. Prior to the creation of the FWNC&R in 1964, the entire park was extensively vandalized and funding has not been available for repairs.

The FWNC&R's 2003 Strategic Master Plan recommends that Broadview Park be restored and put into use as a group picnic rental site. At the beginning of 2012, the Friends received a grant in the amount of $45,000.00 from an anonymous donor which was given with the expressed purpose of funding the first phase of this restoration.

The Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge is located in COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 and serves ALL COUNCIL DISTRICTS.