Grants for PublicOutdoor Recreation and

Facilities

Division of Grant AdministrationGregory Akers, Senior Grant

Administrator

Good Morning

• I would like to take a few minutes this morning to discuss some of the grant funding opportunities available for outdoor recreation facilities from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Objectives of this presentation are as follows:

• To share information on several public outdoor recreation grant programs

• To explain the priorities for funding for the most popular grant programs.

• To list the publications available to assist in the preparation of grant applications.

• To explain how to access IDNR grant applications on the Internet.

Recreation Grants-in Aid Programs

Boat Access Area Development Bicycle Path Grants Federal LWCF Grants Off-Highway Vehicle Grants Open Space Lands Acquisition &Development

(OSLAD) Public Museum Grants Recreational Trails Program Local Government Snowmobile Grants Snowmobile Trail Establishment Fund

Open Space Lands Acquisition & Development Grant Program

Open Space Land Acquisition Development (OSLAD) Grant

Program Details• Up to 50% reimbursement for the acquisition and

development of lands for public parks & open space

• Eligible grant applicants are: units of local government Park District, Conservation Districts, Municipalities, Townships and County Governments

• Maximum acquisition grant = $750,000

• Maximum development grant = $400,00

• For the last several years, $20 million dollars has been available for OSLAD grant funding

Open Space Land Acquisition Development (OSLAD) Grant

Program Details• Annual application cycle: May 1- July 1

• Application deadline is 12:00 PM on July 1 or the first business day of July

• This year, the cut-off date for applications is July 3 since July 1 is on a Saturday

• Agencies are limited to a maximum of 1 acquisition and 1 development grant application annually

• Grants are generally announced in the winter typically in January, but have been announced as early as November and as late as April

Current OSLAD Priority Projects Include:

• Protection or enhancement of significant natural areas

• Protection or enhancement of threatened and endangered species habitat

• Protection or enhancement of significant wildlife areas

• Protection or enhancement of natural wetland areas

• Promoting conservation education opportunities

Current OSLAD Priority Projects Include:

• Promoting recreational use of surface waters• Protection or recreational use of linear

greenways• Interagency cooperation in providing and/or

effectively utilizing local recreation resources• Enhancing recreational opportunities for minority

and less affluent populations or adaptive reuse of inner urban properties for open space and park purposes

Current OSLAD Priority Projects Include:

• Priorities for OSLAD acquisition assistance will be given to local agencies with less acreage than the statewide median.

• Priorities for OSLAD development assistance is given to local agencies where a deficiency of proposed recreation facilities exists.

Eligible OSLAD Projects May Include:

• Acquisition of land for new park sites or park expansion, water frontage, nature study, and natural areas

• Picnic and playground facilities

• Outdoor interpretive facilities

• Sports courts and playfields

• Swimming pools, beaches and bathhouses

Eligible OSLAD Projects May Include:

• Campgrounds and fishing piers

• Winter sports facilities

• Park roads and paths, parking, utilities and restrooms

OSLAD Application Evaluation Criteria:

• A project consistent with a master parks & recreation plan or strategic or capital plan

• Documentation of public involvement in the project’s planning

• Diverse facilities of “high need” (in comparison to “IRFI”)

• An accurate and detailed site development plan• Low site infrastructure costs• Proposed facilities that are accessible to the

disabled

Land & Water Conservation Fund Grant Program

LWCF Grant Program Details

• Grant Application is exactly the same as OSLAD with the same application deadline of July 1

• This program is federally-funded as opposed to OSLAD which is state-funded

• Up to 50% Grant funding for Acquisition of lands for Public Parks & Open Space

• Maximum grant award is $ 750,000.00

• Funding level is uncertain for this year

Bike Path Grant Program

Bike Path Grant Program Details

• Up to 50% reimbursement for the acquisition and development of bicycle paths

• Eligible grant applicants are: units of local government • (Park Districts, Conservation Districts, Forest Preserve Districts,

Municipalities, Township and County Governments, etc.)

• Maximum acquisition grant = No maximum grant cap

• Maximum development grant = $200,000

• For the last couple of years, $2.5 million dollars has been available annually for grants

Bike Path Grant Program Details

• Annual application cycle: January 1 – March 1

• Application deadline is 12:00 Noon

• Beginning next year, there will be no limit on the number of applications that an agency may submit each year

• Paths developed through the program MUST be a minimum of 8 feet wide and CANNOT be circular paths within a park

• Grants awards are generally announced in the fall

Bike Path Application Evaluation CriteriaProject Priorities

• Population Served (the greater the #, the better)• Trail Significance (Statewide – Regional – Local)• First Trail in the Service Area• Major Expansion to an Existing Trail• Important Link to Existing Trails• Trail Length (the longer, the better)• Local Planning Involved• Environmental Factors/Trail Attributes• Multiple Trail Users Allowed (equestrians, snowmobilers, etc.) • Include support facilities (restrooms, parking, shade)

Eligible Development Projects May Include:

• Bike path Construction or Renovation, Including: Clearing, Grading, Drainage, and Surfacing

• Bridging• Fencing• Regulatory/Informational Signs• Restroom Buildings, Drinking Fountains,

Parking Areas

Boat Access Area Development Grant Program (Motorized Facilities)

Boat Access Area Development Grant Program

(Non-Motorized/Canoe Facilities)

Boat Access Grant Program Details

• 100% reimbursement for the development of boat/canoe launches and associated facilities (entrance road, parking, restroom facilities, etc.)

• 90% reimbursement for the acquisition of land to be developed for a boat/canoe launch

• Eligible grant applicants are: units of local government (Park Districts, Conservation Districts, Forest Preserve Districts, Municipalities, Township and County Governments, Port Authorities, etc.)

Boat Access Grant Program Details

• Maximum boat (motorized) grant =200,000

• Maximum canoe (non-motorized) grant =50,000

• For the last several years, the Boat Access grant program has had $725,000 available for grants

Current Boat Access Priority Projects include:

• Development of new launches• Projects that create or improve a water trail• Projects located in counties with high numbers of

registered watercraft• Sites that have high projected facility use• Projects that have documented public planning and

citizen input• Suitable location• Project sponsor financial cooperation• Project sponsor’s ability to maintain the site• No facility user fees

How to access grant application information and forms on the

Internet• Go to www.dnr.state.il.us

• Click on “Grant Info”

• Click on “Recreational Grants-in-Aid Programs”

• Click on the grant program of your choice

List of Publications

• Outdoor Recreation Facilities Guide

• Playground Planning Guide

• Community Park and Recreation Planning Guide

• Boating and Canoe Access Development Guide

Lake County Grants Awards

• OSLAD 20,000,000• LWCF 22,400,000• BIKE 4,300,000• BOATS 819,000• SNOW 514,000• STEF 89,000• MUSEUM (C) 1,500,000• OLT 13,000,000• RTP 63,000• TOTAL $ 62,685,000

In Closing

• The Office of Architecture, Engineering and Grants Division of Grant Administration manages hundreds of projects amounting to millions of dollars in grant funding for outdoor recreation areas/facilities.

• Questions?• If you have any questions regarding our grant

programs, please call: 217-782-7481 or send us an e-mail at: dnr.grants@illinois.gov

• Thanks for your time and attention this morning!