OUTDOOR RECREATION GRANT-IN-AID PROGRAMS

These programs are administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) with the intention of creating more recreational opportunities closer to home for the citizens of Illinois. All of the programs listed below operate on a cost reimbursement basis to local governments for approved project elements. Funding through these programs is competitively awarded on an annual basis based upon written applications.

Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Program (OSLAD) & Land And Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)-Applications Due July 1, 2010. 
The OSLAD and LWCF programs are state-financed grant programs that provide funding assistance to local government agencies for acquisition and /or development of land for public parks and open space. 

Boat Access Area Development Program-Applications Due September 1, 2009
This program provides financial assistance to local government agencies for the acquisition, construction, and expansion/rehabilitation, including necessary architectural/engineering services, of public boat and canoe access areas on Illinois= lakes and rivers. 

Illinois Bicycle Path Program-Applications Due March 1, 2010
This program was created in 1990 to financially assist eligible units of government acquire, construct, and rehabilitate public, non-motorized bicycle paths and directly related support facilities. 

Snowmobile Grant Program-Applications Due May 1, 2010
This program is financed from the registration fees of snowmobiles and provides up to 50% reimbursement of approved facility development/rehabilitation costs and 90% of approved trail corridor land acquisition costs for pubic snowmobile trails and areas in the state.

IL DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
OPEN SPACE LANDS ACQUISITION & DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM 

PROGRAM SUMMARY

The IL Open Space Lands Acquisition & Development (OSLAD) Program includes funding from the Federal Land & Water Conservation Fund. The two are operated as one grant program that provides up to 50% funding assistance to local government agencies for acquisition and development of land for public parks and open space. The program is funded in part with money from the IL real estate transfer tax. Projects may vary from small neighborhood parks or tot lots to large community and county parks and nature areas.

The OSLAD Program is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR). NCICG staff have worked with the OSLAD program and the DNR for many years. We will work closely with your community and DNR to develop a competitive and thorough grant application. A great deal is involved in an application to this program. We like to begin working with the appropriate community board or committee on the application shortly after the first of January in the year that you want to apply for funding (assuming a July 1 application deadline).

OSLAD PROGRAM FACTS

1. Funding assistance for approved projects is provided on a reimbursement basis after satisfactory project completion. This means, the community must possess the ability to initially finance the entire cost of an approved project prior to receipt of grant reimbursement.
    
2. Project applications are due in Springfield by July 1 of each year. The process to submit a grant application to this program must begin long before the deadline date. There are numerous maps and drawings needed. Early consultation with DNR is required. 
    
3. This is a competitive program. Applicants compete with other communities statewide for the same pool of funds.
    
4. The current statewide average for the supply of local open space and parkland acreage according to the IL Recreational Facilities Inventory is approximately 11.35 ac/1000 population for overall community parkland acreage. The DNR uses a criteria that approximately 20% of local parkland/openspace acreage should be allocated to neighborhood or mini-park facilities serving an area up to 1/2 mile radius and approximately 80% allocated to community parks serving a community-wide area or up to a 2 mile radius in high density urban areas.
    
5. Maximum grant funding for an approved acquisition project is limited to $750,000 and approved development projects are limited to $400,000.
    
6. Project proposals must be for a single site. DNR will not accept applications for two different park sites in a community in the same grant cycle.
    
7. Grant reimbursement is limited to 50% of actual eligible project costs or the approved grant amount, whichever is less. Consequently, it is very important to estimate project costs carefully. Once a grant amount has been approved for a project, additional funds will not be available to cover project cost overruns.
    
8. Examples of eligible projects include:

   A) Acquisition projects:

   Acquisition of land for new park sites or park expansion, nature study, natural or scenic resource preservation, sites protecting threatened or endangered species, flood plains, wetlands, geologic features, wildlife habitats or scenic waters, etc..

   Acquisition of linear greenway corridors and abandoned rights-of-way for outdoor recreation purposes.

   Acquisition of areas providing frontage on public surface waters or land for creating public water impoundments to promote water-based recreation opportunities.

   B) Development/Renovation projects:

   • picnic and playground facilities
   • walking/hiking/jogging trails
   • nature observation and sightseeing facilities such as overlooks, turnouts, and trails
   • outdoor interpretive facilities
   • sports courts and play fields
   • basic outdoor water sports facilities for swimming and boating including pools, beaches and bathhouses
   • camping facilities
   • group camps open to public on first-come first-served basis
   • fishing piers
   • outdoor skating facilities
   • winter sports facilities
   • support facilities such as park roads and paths, parking, utilities, restrooms
   • architectural/engineering services necessary for proper design and construction of approved project components

   C) Combination projects:

   A local agency may receive up to 50% grant reimbursement on the approved Fair Market Value of land anticipated for donation to the agency, and use the value of that donation as well as all or part of the required local match on an approved OSLAD project provided the land donation meets eligibility requirements. Land donations can be combined with either a development or acquisition project.

   The donated land must remain for public outdoor recreation use. The improvements outlined in the initial grant application must be completed within three years of the completed acquisition.
   

9. If you are planning on applying to the OSLAD program for a development project it is strongly advised that you have an engineer or landscape architect involved in the project development. There are several maps and drawings that are needed and if the project is awarded you will need a professional to prepare project plans and specifications and bid documents. 
    
10. Support facilities for public park areas including interior roadways and parking areas, fencing, utility and sanitation systems, restroom buildings, lighting, dams, erosion control, and maintenance structures are eligible for partial funding. Site Beautification and landscaping are also eligible but may not exceed 20% of total project construction costs. Projects may not consist solely of site preparation and/or infrastructure support facilities.
     
11. A full ten percent (10%) of your grant application review is based on the project's consistency with local plans and where direct public participation in the planning process and/or project proposal is clearly identified. Current plans (less than five years old) and grass roots public participation in the planning process are the highest priority. NCICG is willing to work with you to address this important evaluation criteria. Some ideas for how to comply with this requirement are:
    
    A) Conducting a community survey.
    B) Development of a comprehensive plan with a recreation component.
    C) Development of a Recreation Plan.
    D) Public meetings.
     
12. Notes & Recommendations:
    • In a development project , include elements that do not already exist elsewhere in the community.
    • Infrastructure costs should stay below 40% of the total project cost.
    • Donations are good but you will receive points only for documented monetary donations.
    • For courts (e.g. tennis or basketball), one pad with multiple uses does not earn extra points. Separate pads = separate points.
    • Need to show there is a high need for use (letters of support).
    • If there are facilities in the existing park that are not accessible (e.g. restrooms) you must include in your plan that the accessibility will be addressed.
    • Plan to construct accessible routes of travel to each facility you include in the grant project.