CITY OF MENIFEE
SUBJECT: Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant
MEETING DATE: June 3, 2026
TO: Mayor and City Council
PREPARED BY: Kori Jones, Senior Management Analyst
REVIEWED BY: Mariana Mitchell, Community Services Director APPROVED BY: Armando G. Villa, City Manager
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Accept the Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant in the amount of $750,000 for the Quail Valley Nature Park; and
2. Adopt two budget amendment resolutions amending the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 budget, appropriating $750,000 of grant funds in revenue and for the transfer out of the Grant Fund 2301 and the transfer in and expenditures within the Capital Projects Fund 4320 to the Project account; and
3. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all other necessary grant-related documents thereof to receive and execute the Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant.
DISCUSSION
The Quail Valley Nature Park is set to be the first City-maintained public park in the Quail Valley Community. This nature themed park spans 10.45 acres and would include interpretive play trails, multipurpose field, outdoor fitness area, gathering space, parking lot, fountain with bottle refill station, and a myriad of walking trails with lighted bollards. In May 2025, ownership of the property was transferred to the City by the Canyon Heights Homeowners Association to be owned and maintained by the City as a public park. The development of Quail Valley Nature Park is a vital step in meeting key objectives outlined in the City's Parks Master Plan and General Plan. The park enhances Menifee’s ability to reach national park access standards by providing at least five acres of parkland per 1,000 residents and ensuring all residents have access to a public park within five miles.
Funds for development of a park in Quail Valley were approved as part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024/2025 Capital Improvement Program (CIP24-16). On October 7, 2024, the Community Services Department received notification that its grant application under the Outdoor Recreation
City of Menifee Staff Report
Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Acceptance
June 3, 2026
3 3
4 2
Legacy Program (ORLP)/Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) was selected for award in the amount of $750,000 with required City match of $750,000, for a total project budget of $1.5 million. This federal pass-through grant is funded by the National Parks Service and administered through the State of California Parks and Recreation Department (California State Parks).
The total budget required to complete design and construction of the nature park is estimated at $3.5 million based on the current engineer’s estimate. The local match funds of $750,000 were allocated within the CIP24-16 from Development Impact Fees (DIF) and Quimby (Local Park) Development Fees. Funding for this project has been outlined in Table 1 below and includes a FY2026/27 Mid-Cycle CIP budget request of $2 million of available Quimby (Local Park) funds to complete the project based on current construction estimate.
TABLE 1 - QUAIL VALLEY NATURE PARK FUNDING
Funding Source Amount
LWCF Grant $750,000
CIP24-16 Local Match (previously allocated) $750,000
DIF 17 Trails $6,800
DIF Citywide Parks $41,735
Quimby Local Park $701,465
Mid-Cycle CIP Budget Request from Quimby Local Park Fund $2,000,000* Total $3,500,000
*Pending approval of the Mid-Cycle Budget request
While working toward the completion of various federal pre-award grant requirements as well as completion of environmental review of the property, the City has received the grant award contract from California State Parks for Council approval. Once completed, the Park would be dedicated in perpetuity as a public park.
The Quail Valley Nature Park Project is currently in the final stages of design following a successful community outreach campaign in October 2025 where staff and design consultant obtained extensive community feedback regarding the unique features and design of the park.
Construction of the park is expected to begin Fall 2026 with the tentative completion of Spring 2027. Community outreach results, current park design, and project status can be found at www.cityofmenifee.us/projects under the Quail Valley Park project page. A copy of the current park design has been attached to this report.
STRATEGIC PLAN OBJECTIVE
Community Engagement and Social Infrastructure
FISCAL IMPACT
The acceptance of the grant would result in a fiscal impact of $750,000 in revenue from the LCWF within the Grant Fund (2301-17055-410000) and a transfer out of the Grant Fund to the CIP City of Menifee Staff Report
Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Acceptance
June 3, 2026
3 3
4 2
Project Fund where the expenditure budget would be appropriated (4320-CIPC-906-17055- 690050) into the Project account required for design and construction of the Quail Valley Nature Park (CIP 24-16) , as summarized in Table 2 below. Matching funds are available in the FY 2025/2026 Capital Improvement Program Budget.
TABLE 2 – PROPOSED PROJECT BUDGET
Fund Account
Number Account Appropriation of
Revenue
Appropriation of
Expenditures
Grant Fund Grant Revenue 441000 $750,000
Grant Fund Transfer Out 904320 $750,000
Capital Projects Transfer In 802301 $750,000
Capital Projects Expenditure –
CIP Budget 690050 $750,000
ATTACHMENTS
1. LWCF Grant Contract
2. Grant Summary Report
3. Budget Amendment Resolution – Fund 2301
4. Budget Amendment Resolution – Fund 4320
5. Quail Valley Nature Park Design