Lake Cascade State Park Accessibility Improvements | BOR PN 17 N015

Opportunity Information: Apply for BOR PN 17 N015

The Lake Cascade State Park Accessibility Improvements grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number BOR PN 17 N015) is a mandatory Bureau of Reclamation grant focused on upgrading several high-use areas within Lake Cascade State Park to meet federal accessibility requirements while also improving overall visitor safety. The core purpose is to expand universal access across multiple park units by removing barriers, replacing hazardous or outdated infrastructure, and reducing tripping and transition hazards in areas where visitors commonly park, walk, fish, launch boats, or use docks. The work is practical and site-specific, concentrating on better accessible routes, safer connections between surfaces, and modernized dock and restroom facilities that are easier for all visitors to use, including people with mobility limitations.

A major component is at the Pelican Cove unit, where the project proposes building a new accessible fishing pier designed to comply with accessibility standards and to create a dedicated, inclusive fishing and scenic viewing experience. Supporting improvements at Pelican Cove include installing a precast concrete vault toilet and adding two designated accessible parking spaces. The parking area is planned to connect to both the restroom and the pier through a hardened, accessible pathway surface (identified as asphalt or concrete), rather than relying on loose gravel. In addition, the existing gravel parking area would be upgraded and better defined, with expansion intended to improve circulation and visitor flow, which also supports safety by reducing confusion and conflict points for vehicles and pedestrians.

At the Crown Point unit, the project centers on replacing the existing dock system and fixing the way visitors access it. The current approach involves steep stairs down the bank, which creates an accessibility barrier and can be hazardous. The project would replace those stairs with an accessible ramp system along the hillside leading to a concrete transition platform (described as 40 feet by 8 feet), and it would stabilize or replace the existing concrete landing that connects to the docks. Alongside these access upgrades, the dock system itself would be replaced, with a total of 180 linear feet of docks purchased and installed, plus new gangways and a new anchoring system. The intent is not only to provide compliant access, but also to modernize the dock infrastructure for safer, more reliable use.

The Blue Heron Boat Ramp/Day Use area is planned for a more extensive set of functional improvements tied to boating access and day-use circulation. This portion of the project would replace the existing boat ramp handling docks, add accessible dock approaches, improve traffic flow, and expand parking. It includes installing 240 linear feet of new dock at Blue Heron. The description notes that some dock sections currently located at Blue Heron had been moved there from less popular areas and would be returned to their original park unit, suggesting the new installation is meant to standardize and properly size the Blue Heron facilities for current demand. The project also calls for removing existing concrete abutments and expanding asphalt adjacent to the boat launch on both the north and south sides of the ramp (about 1,200 square feet). That asphalt expansion is meant to create more uniform, accessible transitions from paved surfaces to the gangways and to make seasonal dock removal easier, which is a practical operational consideration in climates where docks are removed for winter.

The Van Wyck Day Use improvements are more targeted but directly tied to accessibility and safety. This work would repair the asphalt abutment where gangways connect to the boat ramp handling docks. The existing asphalt is described as damaged and failing to provide accessible transitions onto the gangways, so the repair is intended to eliminate uneven or abrupt surface changes that can create trip hazards and prevent wheelchair or walker users from safely navigating onto the dock system.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is offered by the Bureau of Reclamation under CFDA number 15.524, with eligibility limited to state governments. The posted award ceiling is $432,000. The opportunity was created on 2017-08-25 and had an original closing date of 2017-09-08. Reclamation indicates it does not anticipate substantial involvement in carrying out the project; instead, its role is expected to remain within typical federal stewardship activities such as monitoring performance and offering technical assistance when requested. In other words, the grant is structured so the recipient leads design and implementation, while the federal agency provides oversight consistent with standard grant management requirements.

• The Bureau of Reclamation in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Lake Cascade State Park Accessibility Improvements" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.524.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-08-25.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-09-08. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $432,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments.

Apply for BOR PN 17 N015

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