News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Monterey has failed to qualify for a $250,000 Recreation Educational Trail Program grant for Meadow Creek Park.
Bill Wiggins is Mayor of Monterey.
“We learned, much to our surprise, that you cannot be allocated a grant if the property has been seized by eminent domain,” Wiggins said. “All of that out there was seized by eminent domain by the town of Monterey. We didn’t know that, but we just didn’t qualify for that grant because of that fact.”
Monterey grant writer Dawn Kupferer said Monterey did not realize they acquired the property through eminent domain until a short time ago.
Property acquired through eminent domain is not eligible to qualify for TDEC’s RTP grant, Kupferer said.
Kupferer said she would be meeting with town officials on Tuesday to discuss other grant opportunities and additional funding sources for the park.
The RTP grant would have been used to improve recreational opportunities at the 283 acre park, located just off Highway 62.
