Plans to upgrade two city parks took another step forward Monday night.

The Greenville City Council voted to provide $43,752 in matching funds to receive a $250,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) that will be used to make health and safety improvements at Dunbar Park and Beeland Park Complex and Recreation Center.

At Beeland Park, the city will bury utility lines, renovate the restrooms at the recreation center and upgrade the press box, concession stand and restrooms at the baseball and softball complex.

At Dunbar Park, the city will install new lighting at Dunbar’s Field No. 2 and No. 3 and construct a pavilion and picnic area.

“We’re real excited,” Greenville Mayor Dexter McLendon said when the city was awarded the grant. “This grant will give us the chance to do some things that we would eventually have to have done anyway.”

McLendon said the city had plans to budget for the projects, but will now be able to use that money for other things.

“This is really a $250,000 savings for the City of Greenville,” McLendon said.

City Clerk Sue Arnold said a start date for the project is not yet known.