The Oakland County Parks and Recreation Community Park and Trail Capital Grant Program (OCPR Community Grant Program) assist local communities with planning, preliminary engineering/design and construction costs directly related to park improvement and trail projects located in Oakland County.
Donor Name: Oakland County
State: Michigan
County:
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/21/2023
Size of the Grant: $5,000 – $100,000
Details:
OCPR’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan 2023-27 identified four core values that provide additional guidance for the grant program:
- Diversity, equity and inclusion
- Environmental sustainability and natural resources stewardship
- Health and wellness
- Fiscal responsibility and organizational excellence
For the 2023 OCPR Community Grant Program, $650,000 will be available for grants. Unlike in 2022, there is no pre-determined split between trails and park projects.
Goals
The goal of the OCPR Grant Program is to support city, village, or township park projects that promote and provide public outdoor recreation opportunities. This includes pre-development projects (planning/design/engineering) as well as development (construction) projects.
Funding Information
- Pre-Development Grants: $5,000 minimum – $25,000 maximum, 25% match required
- Development Grants: $5,000 minimum – $100,000 maximum, 50% match required
Eligible Project Types
Eligible project types are defined below:
- Projects that create new park facilities or renovate existing park facilities and must promote or involve fishing, hunting, beaches, boating access, picnic areas, winter sports areas, playground equipment, ball fields, court sports, skate parks, sports fields, disc golf, park trails, or spray parks/splash pads.
- Projects that support/improve the user experience within a park, including but not limited to, nature interpretive buildings, visitor centers, restrooms, trailheads, parking areas, or maintenance/equipment storage buildings.
- Projects that close gaps, make connections, and/or improve the user experience within planned trail networks and systems in Oakland County. Eligible trailway projects include a non-motorized trail, path, pathway, shared-use path, pathway connector, on-road bike facility, water trail.
- Projects that support/improve the user experience within planned trail networks and systems in Oakland County. Trail-related amenities include, but are not limited to, trailheads, pedestrian-activated traffic control devices, bike racks, bike repair stations, wayfinding signs, bridges, boardwalks, tunnels, and benches.
Grant Requirements
- Applicant and location must meet the applicant eligibility requirements.
- Grant projects must be identified in an approved/adopted plan including, but not limited to, 5-year Parks and Recreation Plan, Capital Improvement Plan, Trailways Master Plan, Complete Streets Plan, Pathways Plan, or Community Master Plan.
- Applicant must have control over the project site.
- Communities should submit only one application per cycle.
- Grant projects must meet the criteria for one of the four listed eligible project types and not include any of the ineligible project types or expenses.
- Acknowledgement is required that OCPR grant program projects are reimbursement grants. Grantees are responsible for all cost overruns, or any additional costs needed to complete the project that are not identified in the submitted project budget.
- Pre-development Grants involve activities prior to construction of an eligible project including, but not limited to, design, preliminary engineering, Phase 1 or 2 Environmental Site Assessments, public engagement, and construction plans.
- Development Grants involve activities commencing with the construction of an eligible project.
- Grant projects can create new or renovate existing park or trailway facilities (so long as the need for renovation is not due to poor maintenance, design, or construction).
- Construction management and permit fees associated with Park Improvement projects are eligible expenses for reimbursement (not to exceed 15%).
- Grant must meet the grant limits and match requirements criteria.
- Public engagement is encouraged but not required. Projects with public engagement that demonstrates support for the project will score higher.
- Letters of support are encouraged but not required. Projects with letters of support will score higher.
- A resolution is no longer required at the time of application. However, if a grant is awarded, a certified resolution from the grantee’s highest governing authority will be required accepting the grant prior to OCPR signing grant agreements.
Eligibility Criteria
- Grant Projects must be located in Oakland County, Michigan
- The Grant application must be submitted by a city, village or township in Oakland County. The State of Michigan, school districts, regional authorities, federally recognized Native American tribes, colleges, universities, private recreation providers, land conservancies and conservation districts are NOT eligible.
For more information, visit Community Park and Trail Capital Grant.
