Twin Falls seeks public input on next 5 years of community development grants

Idaho’s Twin Falls Twin Falls City Park’s new public restroom project is taking shape, and although it will cost $1 million, local taxpayers won’t pay a dime for it. A Community Development Block Grant is paying for the entire facility.

The public can now comment on the funding for the next five years, which might affect a number of community programs.

I spoke with Jenny Norman and her friends about the new public facilities that were being built while they were lounging in the shade in Twin Falls City Park.

“We actually saw them working when we walked over there. Since we are not permitted to trespass, we haven’t been inside it yet.” Norman uttered those words.

The 146-page Five-Year Plan is available for reading, or you can watch reporter Lorien Nettleton of Idaho News 6 interview the plan’s authors about its contents:

She said she was in favor of the new facility. “we need a bathroom that’s better than it was before.”

In 2020, Twin Falls was the first to be eligible for a federal Community Development Block Grant for five years. The new public bathroom in City Park will receive some of the grant cash.

When asked how much it would cost, Twin Falls Senior Planner Will Klaver stated that it would cost $910,000, plus a million dollars for contingencies.

The Community Development Block Grant program is surprisingly responsible for funding the entire project.

Klaver informed me that the city did not anticipate a second round of block grants because of all the changes that have occurred in Washington.

“On multiple occasions, we’ve needed to confirm that the money has recently become available. Klaver stated, “These funds are safe from any type of cutting, and they did get appropriate in the big beautiful Bill that just got passed.”

Klaver went over the financial plan for the next five years and outlined the goals.

“Two top priorities that we’re going for right now is to redo sidewalks in the downtown area… the second one is to focus on finishing the first consolidated plan’s plan of the plaza so the outdoor learning space between the library and the park,” said Klaver.

Klaver stressed the significance of public input on this initiative when asked why it matters.

“If we have a very large consensus from public to say, we want to use the funds this way, then we can make that switch,” Klaver stated.

The five-year plan’s comment session ends on August 22. Visit the City of Twin Falls website for details on how to leave a comment.

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