One option to help local governments meet this challenge is to seek out state or federal grant programs. In Illinois, the Department of Conservation (IDOC) is the primary manager of grant money available for outdoor recreation projects. The key word is "outdoor" recreation. All grants available through IDOC are for outdoor recreation areas and facilities only. Funding for indoor recreation is not available except for "support facilities" that directly benefit outdoor use of areas, such as nature centers, outdoor pool bathhouses, and park restrooms.

Four of the programs available through IDOC are specific in their focus; providing assistance for bike trail projects, boat launching facilities, snowmobile trails and tree planting. Two others, the state's Open Space Lands Acquisition & Development (OSLAD) program and the federal Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) program, offer assistance for a broad range of public outdoor recreation endeavors. Any unit of local government with statutory authority for providing public recreation may participate in any of these programs.

OSLAD/LWCF GRANT PROGRAMS
Local agencies needing financial help with general outdoor recreation park acquisition, development and rehabilitation purposes can request assistance through the OSLAD and LWCF grant programs. These programs, administered similarly, provide up to 50% funding assistance for a wide range of projects. Land acquisition and facility development or rehabilitation projects ranging from small neighborhood parks to large community or county park facilities and nature study areas are eligible. A single application is automatically considered for funding under both programs. Sites assisted with either OSLAD or LWCF grant funding must be dedicated and maintained in perpetuity for public outdoor recreation use.

Applications for OSLAD and LWCF consideration are accepted from May 1 through July 1 of each year. Current limits on maxi-

18* Illinois Parks & Recreation* January/February 1994

BIKE PATH GRANTS
Assistance for local bike path projects is available through the Department's Bicycle Path grant program. Approximately $2.0 million is available annually to assist local agencies acquire lands and/or develop or rehabilitate public bike path facilities. Since its beginning in 1990, $11.5 million has been awarded to 110 projects resulting in over 260 miles of new or improved bicycle paths completed or underway in the state.

Assistance up to 50% of eligible project costs is available through this program. No grant award limit beyond the annual appropriation exists for approved acquisition projects, while development projects are limited to a $200,000 annual maximum. Applications are accepted by IDOC between January 1 and March 1 of each year.

The Illinois Department of Transportation also manages a bicycle related program of substantial size, the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program. Funding up to 80% of project costs is available for transportation related trail initiatives. It should be noted, however, that this program is not managed like more traditional grants programs. Although projects can be proposed at the local level, once approved for ITEP funding, they are managed as state projects by the IDOT Bureau of Local Roads.

BOAT AND CANOE ACCESS AND SNOWMOBILE FACILITIES
Agencies with opportunities to develop public boat and canoe launching facilities or snowmobiling areas can receive funding assistance through IDOC's Boat Access Area Development or Snowmobile grant programs. For public boat and canoe launching facilities, 50% funding for approved land acquisition costs and 100% of construction costs is available. The program operates on a $1.0 million annual budget and limits individual grants to a $200,000 maximum. The Department accepts applications for the program between July 1 and September 1.

The state Snowmobile grant program, financed from snowmobile registration fees, helps local agencies acquire, develop and rehabilitate public snowmobiling areas. The program makes available approximately $80,000 per year. Assistance is limited to those areas of the state with normal climatic conditions conducive to sustained snowmobiling activities. Grant applications are accepted between January 1 and March 1 of each year.

TREE PLANTING AND URBAN FORESTRY
Two programs managed by the Department's Division of Forest Resources are available to aid community forestry efforts. One, the federally funded Small Business Administration "Tree Planting Initiative" program, provides up to 60% funding for tree planting projects with grant awards up to $50,000. A second, the Urban and Community Forestry Program, provides up to 50% funding to establish new or expanded forestry programs. A grant limit of $10,000 exists for this program.

OTHER PROGRAMS
A few other potential funding options exist that may be applicable in limited situations. These include the Illinois EPA's "Clean Lakes" program and the federal "Urban Parks and Recreation Recovery" grant program, a recreation facility rehabilitation program managed directly by the National Park Service that targets a select number of urban communities. Still another with limited application is IDOC's Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund; the tax check-off financed program formally known as the Illinois Non-game Wildlife Preservation Fund.

General information on all the programs discussed is provided on the accompanying chart (pp. 24-25).

GRANT MECHANICS
Pursuit of grant funding should not be undertaken lightly. There are costs to the local sponsor, if only in staff time. In addition, the sponsor loses certain control over their project in terms of scheduling, implementation procedures and long term use of the site. In considering whether to pursue possible grant fund

Illinois Parks & Recreation* January/February 1994* 19

First, grants from each program are offered only once a year. Therefore, timing is a factor. Grant selection is competitive based upon written applications submitted to IDOC and, for most programs, a formal presentation made to the Department's Conservation Advisory Board. With competition usually keen, an accurate and well documented application that clearly identifies project need and public support is basic to the process,

Applications are accepted only for prospective or planned projects for which conceptual plans exist. Projects already underway, completed or for which costs have been incurred prior to IDOC grant approval are ineligible for funding consideration. Also, local agencies may submit no more than one acquisition and one development project proposal per grant cycle.

Typically, grant projects involve only a single site. However, multiple site projects are eligible for consideration provided the overall concept is similar, such as the acquisition of several neighborhood park sites or comparable development at several sites.

Applicants should also be aware that grant awards are based upon the specified project components and cost estimates contained within the application. Therefore, it is crucial that cost estimates be accurate. Once a grant amount is approved, the upper limit is fixed. Cost overruns are solely the local agency's responsibility.

Another important factor involves actual grant payment. With exception of the Boat Access Area Development program which provides payment as costs are incurred, all IDOC grant programs operate on a cost reimbursement basis after project completion. This means the local agency must be able to temporarily finance the entire project once grant notification is received. Grant funds are provided only upon satisfactory project completion and proof of local payment for all associated costs.

Two final considerations are that grant-assisted facilities must be open, accessible and properly maintained for safe and enjoyable public use, regardless of place of residence. Use of the site(s) must also be dedicated to the proposed outdoor recreation use for a specified period of time, depending on the specific grant program and size of grant. This commitment can range from a minimum of 5 years to "perpetuity." Conversions of grant-assisted sites to something other than the approved recreation use requires a time consuming and costly mitigation process to replace the converted property with comparable land.

GRANT PRIORITIES
Prior to initiating an application, local agencies should consider the following factors in evaluating the potential competitiveness of a proposal and discuss the matter with staff of the managing state or federal agency. These considerations are the basis for evaluating and rating each project proposal.

1) The project should clearly be the result of sound local planning and identified as a high priority. Evidence of public involvement in the decision-making process for the project should be documented.

2) Project need and justification must be clearly evident.

3) The proposed project should provide recreational diversity and demonstrate good use of the project site.

4) The site needs to be environmentally suitable for the proposed use and compatible with adjacent land uses. For example, lighted ball fields near residential areas should be carefully planned and be sensitive to adjacent landowner concerns.

5) The sponsor must demonstrate ability to initially finance and complete the project, as well as provide subsequent operation and maintenance of the facility at an acceptable level.

THE GRANT PROCESS
The typical scenario involving grants from IDOC is not complex. A local project with strong public support and high need is identified that requires outside funding assistance. The responsible local government agency contacts IDOC staff to informally discuss project concept, eligibility and grant funding potential. If suitable for consideration, an application is prepared and submitted to IDOC by the designated deadline date for the respective grant program.

Project sites are then typically visited by IDOC staff and subsequently evaluated and prioritized for funding according to specific criteria and goals established for each respective program. The evaluation process is designed to make project selection objective, equitable and responsive to both statewide as well as local outdoor recreation needs.

20 * Illinois Parks & Recreation * January/February 1994

Upon approval and execution of an grant contract, the local sponsor proceeds with project implementation. Generally, two construction seasons are allowed to complete development projects. Acquisition projects must be completed within one year, although projects involving eminent domain are exempt from this schedule. In addition, applications are not accepted that cover both the acquisition and subsequent development of a site in a single proposal. Separate applications are required.

Once the approved project is completed, grant payment can be requested. At that time, a final project inspection is conducted by IDOC staff and, if acceptable, the approved grant reimbursement payment is forwarded to the local agency. Grant-assisted sites are generally required to display a sign acknowledging state or federal participation in the facility.

Grant manuals providing detailed compliance guidelines and application forms and instructions for each of the programs described in this article are available by contacting the specified administering agency.

THE FUTURE
Through the strong leadership of the Illinois Association of Park Districts and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association, Illinois has achieved a significant record of local park facility developments; many assisted with state and federal grants. Nonetheless, unmet needs remain for park, recreation and conservation agencies in the state.

The federal role in Illinois has not been significant in recent years, at least with regard to close-to-home facilities and programs. However, there are indications that the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund and Urban Parks and Recreation Recovery grant programs will undergo a review as part of the President's reinventing government initiative. For local governments, this could be useful if it includes higher funding levels for these programs and expansion of their focus.

New State financed initiatives, such as programs to assist in developing indoor facilities, rehabilitating obsolete facilities or dredging waterways, have been suggested by various local agencies. However, any such program, even though well documented, will meet antitax opposition if it is not widely supported and based on a revenue source not already over burdened. It appears the closer a program's revenue source is tied to end uses, the less the opposition. General tax funds are the most in demand and are the most difficult to obtain for parks, recreation and conservation purposes. The example of the recent federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act funding of trail projects suggests that targeted efforts within larger programs may be a useful model for other initiatives.

Another area worthy of discussion would be the fine tuning of existing grant programs. Raising individual project grant limits or decreasing the required local match for projects are ideas often suggested; however, the immediate result of each is a reduction in the overall number of grants awarded. This may be appropriate in a program that has adequate funding but will require considerable debate in programs that are already heavily oversubscribed. Whatever the approach, any significant change to existing programs or creation of new programs will require the combined efforts of a great number of individuals and organizations.

Mark Yergler is a senior grant administrator with the Illinois Department of Conservation. Ron Hallberg is the manager of the Division of Grant Administration, IDOC.

Illinois Parks & Recreation * January/February 1994 * 21