Playing Smart changelabsolutions.org | kaboom.org 44 A State Grant Opens the Door An inspiring example of how a nontraditional partnership can create community recreational space comes from the small, rural town of Earlimart, California. There are no parks where children can play in Earlimart, and for years neighborhood advocates had their eyes on an empty lot in the middle of town – a few dry, dusty acres of land owned by the local school district. They identified a $2 million grant that could fund the transformation of the lot into an appealing recreational destination filled with trees, play space, picnic tables, and walking paths. But to apply for the grant, the school district and the county needed to sign an agreement detailing future plans for the property, including a provision that the district would relinquish control of the property for a couple of years while the county took over the development process. This was no small task, because the district and the county resource management agency had a long history of mutual distrust. The county resource management agency had the charge and know-how to oversee the development of the land, as well as an interest in developing a drainage system on the property to absorb excess water, process pollutants, and prevent flooding after major storms. But because the land was owned by the school district, the county could not take on the project without a formal agreement. The district already faced a number of pressing challenges, including low test scores, so developing a park was not high on its to-do list. The district also was reluctant to take on the responsibility for costs or injuries associated with community use. Community advocates helped identify ways for the district to share the costs and responsibilities of developing and maintaining the land through a joint use agreement. The school superintendent agreed to host regular meetings with county resource management agency staff, elected officials, and other community advocates to discuss how to move forward. Finally, after years of tireless organizing and sometimes difficult negotiations, the school district and county signed an agreement and submitted a strong application to the state parks and recreation department for the $2 million grant. As this toolkit went to press, they were awaiting final word on the award. Grants Federal, state, county, business, or private foundation grants are available to improve recreational spaces, renovate school property, or provide services for community residents. Soliciting grant funds can be an opportunity for government departments, school districts, and nonprofits to form partnerships and apply jointly to a grant program that might not otherwise be available to them individually. For example, a nonprofit organization and a city parks department can partner to apply to a private foundation that traditionally does not fund local government agencies. Although grants can be a good way to get the joint use process started, they are not a sustainable funding strategy. Grants tend to be awarded through a competitive process, with funding priorities changing from year to year. Grant criteria are often narrowly focused as to the scope of the program or services eligible for funding, and many times require the applicant to raise matching funds. While grants may be a great source of one-time or short-term funding, managing the funds may take substantial administrative overhead. So grants are usually best used in conjunction with other sources of funding to create an ongoing joint use program. Federal Grants Several federal grant programs make funds available for recreational facilities, community schools, or student enrichment activities. The amount of funding available through each program varies from year to year, depending on congressional appropriations. Here are some of the federal grant programs that may be available to finance elements of a joint use program:57 Land and Water Conservation Fund This fund has helped state and local agencies develop outdoor recreational sites, including thousands of community playgrounds, parks, soccer fields, and baseball diamonds.58 Seventy-five percent of the total funds distributed to the states through this program have helped finance “close-to-home recreation opportunities” for youth, adults, senior citizens, and disabled residents.59 Funds are allocated to each of the states to purchase parklands and develop recreational facilities. To find out which department oversees these grant funds in your
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