LCRA and PEC award $24,000 grant for community pavilion in Blanco

Blanco United Methodist Church to finish pavilion as community gathering space

May 31, 2023

LCRA and Pedernales Electric Cooperative representatives present a $24,000 grant to Blanco United Methodist Church for an outdoor community pavilion. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Carl Callison, church property trustee vice chairperson and construction manager; Greg Miller, church administrative council chairperson; Michael L. “Mike” Allen, LCRA Board member; Harvie Lindeman, church finance committee chairperson; Diana Gonzales, PEC public affairs representative; Carol Freeman, Thomas Michael Martine and Margaret D. “Meg” Voelter, LCRA Board members; Jack Twilley, grant writer; E. Carlos Cloyd, pastor; Yvonne Callison, church financial secretary; Brian Davis, church lay leader; Susan Moore, church treasurer; and Rick Arnic, LCRA Regional Affairs representative.

BLANCO, Texas – The Blanco United Methodist Church soon will complete an outdoor community pavilion thanks to a $24,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Pedernales Electric Cooperative.

The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with more than $171,000 in matching funds, will allow the church to build the area’s first open-air pavilion. The project is the vision of the late Harold and Florine Lord, long-time Blanco residents.

“They envisioned an outdoor pavilion and playground for kids, a place for the community to gather,” said Greg Miller, Blanco United Methodist Church administrative council chairperson.

The new pavilion will bear the couple’s name.

“It’s going to be named the Lord’s Pavilion and Playground,” said Yvonne Callison, church finance director and bookkeeper. “They lived in Blanco many, many years and were always sponsoring something for the children. They were very, very generous.”

The project near Blanco State Park has been in the works for three years.

“The project came to a halt during Covid,” Miller said. “We started the construction phase, which is focused on the pavilion, but with cost increases, we were suddenly above budget. This grant will help us complete the construction phase. We’re just so excited.”

The new pavilion will have restrooms with showers and a kitchen space with a sink and electrical outlets.

“When families come to town, there’s now a space available,” Miller said. “Schools can use it for meetings. The community can use it for things like family picnics, class reunions and baby showers. This is something we’ll make sure the community is aware is available here.”

The church, which is changing its name to Blanco Methodist Church, is a designated emergency shelter in Blanco County, and the pavilion also could provide additional shelter during emergency situations.

Volunteers will add landscaping, and the church has plans to add a playscape and a rainwater catchment system in future phases.

The community grant is one of 46 grants awarded recently through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves. PEC is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the grant program.

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in January. More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp.

About LCRA
The Lower Colorado River Authority serves customers and communities throughout Texas by managing the lower Colorado River; generating and transmitting electric power; providing a clean, reliable water supply; and offering outdoor adventures at more than 40 parks along the Colorado River from the Texas Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. LCRA and its employees are committed to fulfilling our mission to enhance the quality of life of the Texans we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service. LCRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1934 and receives no state appropriations. For more information, visit lcra.org.

About PEC
Founded in 1938 by then-Congressman Lyndon B. Johnson, Pedernales Electric Cooperative Inc. is a member-owned electric cooperative serving more than 380,000 accounts across Central Texas. An industry-recognized leader providing outstanding member service and reliable electricity, PEC conducts its business via a transparent and democratic process and highly encourages member participation.

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