Park and Recreational Facility Construction Grant Program Accepting Applications

[Mike Clifford]

I wonder if this means we'll see working water fountains or the wells cleaned up at the Kankakee River State Park?

The consession building was closed by the board of health.

Or will the site superintendent stay comfortable inside her cozy little office, where monies have gone towards improvements as of late?

A major State Park in this state that has been in a despicable state for years deserves better than the people running it into the ground.

 

Hmmmm..........

 

 

This just came in from the IL DNR....

 

"$25 Million Available For Park and Recreation Projects Through Illinois Jobs Now! Capital Program

 

SPRINGFIELD, IL - The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) will accept applications beginning Oct. 15 for the state's new Park and Recreational Facility Construction (PARC) Grant Program. The program will provide grants to eligible local governments for acquisition, development, construction, rehabilitation or other capital improvements to park and recreation facilities in Illinois.

 

For the current Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, a total of $25 million in grants are available through funding provided by the Illinois Jobs Now! capital program. The maximum grant award for qualifying projects for FY11 is $2.5 million.

 

The IDNR will accept applications from qualifying units of local government from Oct. 15 through 5 p.m. on Mon., Nov. 29, 2010.

 

"Governor Quinn and the General Assembly saw the need for capital improvements at park and recreational facilities throughout the state and developed this program to meet some of those needs while creating jobs in Illinois," said IDNR Director Marc Miller. "This kind of long-term investment in local parks and recreation will pay long-term dividends for Illinois communities."

 

The PARC Grant Program can fund bondable, bricks and mortar projects that include demolition, site preparation and improvements for indoor and outdoor recreation facilities, reconstruction, improvements and expansion to existing facilities and new construction. Projects involving land acquisition for construction of new or expansion of existing indoor and outdoor recreation facilities, and for open space and conservation purposes, are also eligible.

 

The PARC program will reimburse grant recipients up to 75 percent of approved project costs (up to 90 percent reimbursement will be available to local governments defined as disadvantaged).

 

The PARC grant program does not replace the annual Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development grant program (OSLAD). PARC projects must be "bondable" according to state guidelines while OSLAD projects do not. Eligible OSLAD projects include limited infrastructure costs by rule and the PARC program is specifically designed to include support facilities and encourages infrastructure work.

 

For more information, details on program eligibility and other program regulations, log on to http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/grants or contact the IDNR Division of Grant Administration, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271, phone 217/782-7481, or by e-mail grants@Illinois.gov."