Eligibility
Eligible applicants include Local government agencies that are obligated by state law to provide public recreation facilities.
This includes:
- Cities (municipal corporations)
- Counties (political subdivisions)
- Metropolitan Service Districts
- Park and recreation districts
- Port districts
Eligibility is limited to public outdoor park and recreation areas and facilities. These areas and facilities must be open and accessible to the public-at-large.
Project Types:
Eligible projects involve land acquisition, development, and major rehabilitation projects that are consistent with the outdoor recreation goals and objectives contained in the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP).
Acquisition – Acquiring land for public outdoor recreation areas, including new park land or additions to existing parks, wildlife areas, and open spaces.
Development – Developing basic outdoor recreation facilities including sports and playfields, picnic facilities, camping facilities or interpretive facilities. Other potential projects include roads, parking areas and restroom buildings.
Rehabilitation – Repairing, restoring or reconstruction on normal wear and tear of facilities. Rehabilitation projects are also those that help meet the access requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Planning and Feasibility Studies
Preliminary studies undertaken to determine and document a project's viability such as a city developing a plan as to where future parks will be located.
The results are used to make decisions whether to proceed with the project, its public need and benefit, how many, locations, activities and likely users, etc. It is an analysis of possible alternative solutions and a recommendation on the best alternative.
The above definition's intent is to provide help for communities who do not have a park master plan in place or whose plan or studies are significantly outdated.
Match Criteria:
The eligible match by the Applicant may include local budgeted funds, local agency labor or equipment, federal revenue sharing, other eligible grants, state and county inmate labor, donated funds, the value of private donated property, equipment, materials, labor, the value of land acquired within the past six year period, cost of appraisals, pre-development costs within the past two year period (cannot exceed 15 percent of total project costs), or any combination thereof.
The Local Government Grant Program match requirements:
At least 50 percent match required for-
- Cities and districts over 25,000 population
- Counties over 50,000 population
At least 40 percent match required for-
- Cities and districts with a population between 5,000 and 25,000
- Counties with a population between 30,000 and 50,000
At least 20 percent match required for-
- Cities and districts under 5,000 population
- Counties under 30,000 population.
Large, Small and Planning Grants:
Annual grant funds are available upon Legislative approval of OPRD’s budget. Project funding depends on the amount of money available and the project's standing on the small or large project priority list.
- Small Grants – projects with a maximum $100,000 grant request.
- Large Grant Requests - projects with a maximum grant request of $1,000,000.
- Small Community Planning Grants – projects with a maximum grant request of $50,000.