The city of Buchanan is seeking grants to improve two parks.

Assistant Community Development Director Ashley Regal tells us the city commission this week voted to apply for state grants for Riverfront Park and Victory Park. The Riverfront Park work comes after years of planning that led to the creation of a boat launch.

“The first project that we got funded that was in this master plan was an ADA accessible kayak launch,” Regal said. “That project is in process and then this kind of piggybacks off that because we have an existing boat launch and an existing ramp that are in need of some support.”

So, the city is seeking a $244,000 grant from the state Natural Resources Trust Fund for improvements to the boat launch and nearby infrastructure.

Also, Regal says they’re seeking a grant to install a playground at Victory Park.

“To get high quality playground equipment that’s going to really last, it’s a big cost. So we went out for this grant last year and we were just a couple points away from getting it last year. So we’re hoping this submission this year will bring home some really nice playground equipment..”

That grant would be $140,000 from the state’s Recreation Passport program. The city’s matches for the Riverfront and Victory Park grants would be $85,000 and $49,000, respectively.

Regal says the Buchanan City Commission voted to apply for the grants this week.