Richmond, MO recycled-tire park amenities move forward with $33,319 state grant

Recycled-tire benches and picnic tables were installed or were in the final stages of installation at four Richmond parks as of the city’s July 6, 2026 update.

The project is funded through a $33,319 reimbursable award from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ 2025 Non-Playground Scrap Tire Surface Material Grant Program. Richmond’s approved project requires no city match, so the grant covers the approved project costs without a required local matching contribution.

Four parks named in the grant

Richmond City Council approved the financial assistance agreement in October 2025 through Bill No. 25-31, identified in the ordinance as an ordinance approving the agreement. The municipal record identifies the project as TNP250016 and names Maurice Roberts Park, Ilamann Park, Charles Armour Park and Southview Park as the locations for the amenities.

The ordinance uses the name “Ilamann Park.” The city’s current parks facilities page lists a Richmond facility called Hamann Park. The available records do not establish whether those names refer to the same location, so they should not be treated as interchangeable without additional city confirmation.

The city facilities page lists Charles Armour Park, also called West Park, with a shelter, ball field, playground structure, horseshoe pits, dog park and restrooms. Southview Park includes a public swimming pool, three ball fields, an 18-hole disc golf course, seasonal soccer fields, playground structures, a fishing lake and a walking trail. Maurice Roberts Park includes shelter houses, four lighted tennis courts, playground structures, picnic tables and restrooms.

What the grant requires

Missouri DNR says its scrap-tire surface-material grants support products made with at least 40% Missouri-generated scrap tires. Eligible non-playground projects include benches, picnic tables, walking trails and other similar molded products.

The department awards both playground and non-playground grants competitively and says there is no match requirement. Grant recipients must execute a financial assistance agreement with DNR before beginning work, and the Richmond ordinance identifies the award as reimbursable.

Funding comes from Missouri’s tire fee

Missouri DNR says the program is supported by the state’s 50-cent scrap-tire fee applied to the retail sale of every new tire. Retailers collect the fee and submit it to the Missouri Department of Revenue, which distributes the funds to DNR. The department says up to 45% of the revenue is available for grants focused on scrap-tire market development.

As of July 6, 2026, the city reported that the new benches and picnic tables were installed or nearing completion. That means park users should see additional seating and gathering spaces at the four project locations, although the reviewed records do not state how many benches or tables were purchased or confirm that every item was fully installed.

Sources

• City of Richmond grant announcement, July 6, 2026
• Richmond Bill No. 25-31 and ordinance approving the DNR agreement
• Missouri DNR Scrap Tire Surface Material Grants