Texas Recreation and Parks Account, Boating Access & Recreational Trails Program Rules Review Public Hearings

Recreation Grants Statement of Purpose: To assist communities in providing recreation and conservation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations

Grant Programs Being Reviewed  Texas Recreation and Parks Account –Regional Park Grants –Outdoor Recreation Grants –Indoor Recreation Grants –Small Community Grants –Community Outdoor Outreach Program Grants  Recreational Trail Grants  Boating Access Grants

80 th Texas Legislature  Increase in competitive grant funding to $15.5 million per year  Creation of Urban Parks Account  $16.7 million appropriations riders

$15.5 million / year appropriation: 40% Urban = $6.2 million 60% TRPA = $9.3 million

Urban Parks Account  Cities and Counties over 500,000 population  13 eligible entities  40% of available funds  Not competing with TRPA  Summit meeting in October to develop rules

Park Grants by the numbers FY vs  TRPA appropriation $5.6 million per year  TRPA appropriation $15.5 million per year

Rules Review Timeline August Staff retreat September Public Hearings/Participant Surveys: Austin, Arlington, The Woodlands, Odessa, Harlingen October Draft rules prepared NovemberCommission permission to publish in Texas Register DecemberCopy available tpwd.state.tx.us/grants January 24, 2008Commission adopts new rules

Regional Recreation Grants  Has been about $2 million per year (fed. funds)  Program suspended last 2 years  50% match  $750,000 to $2 million  Outdoor / indoor recreation and conservation projects of regional significance  Local governments / multi-jurisdictional

Scoring Systems Regional Priority Scoring System Compliance at previously assisted grant project sitesCompliance at previously assisted grant project sites Project provides for the acquisition of land for the purposes ofProject provides for the acquisition of land for the purposes of A. Intensive use recreation (5 points), and/or A. Intensive use recreation (5 points), and/or B. Significant linear greenways (5 points), and/or B. Significant linear greenways (5 points), and/or C. Conservation areas (5 points) C. Conservation areas (5 points) Project demonstrates matching fund contributions (land, money, in-kind) from multiple political jurisdictions (1-5)Project demonstrates matching fund contributions (land, money, in-kind) from multiple political jurisdictions (1-5) Project is a component of a comprehensive or park and recreation master plan (1-5)Project is a component of a comprehensive or park and recreation master plan (1-5) Project proposes facility development which will be used or programmed by multiple political jurisdictions (1-5)Project proposes facility development which will be used or programmed by multiple political jurisdictions (1-5) Project demonstrates commitments for funds, resources, or programming from the private sector or non-profit groups (1-5)Project demonstrates commitments for funds, resources, or programming from the private sector or non-profit groups (1-5)

Scoring Systems Regional Priority Scoring System Project demonstrates the dedication of publicly-owned non-parkland from a source other than the applicant (1- 5)Project demonstrates the dedication of publicly-owned non-parkland from a source other than the applicant (1- 5) Project proposes acquisition and/or development of significant water-based resources (1-15)Project proposes acquisition and/or development of significant water-based resources (1-15) Project proposes acquisition and/or development of a significant natural resource other than water (1-10)Project proposes acquisition and/or development of a significant natural resource other than water (1-10) Project proposes to link multiple political jurisdictions with trails and/or greenbelts (5-15)Project proposes to link multiple political jurisdictions with trails and/or greenbelts (5-15) Project promotes conservation of natural resources (1- 5)Project promotes conservation of natural resources (1- 5)

Topics for Discussion  Considering restoring this program in FY2009  Land and Water Conservation Funds as the sole funding source (no state funds)  Current scoring system and funding thresholds, are they adequate?

Outdoor Recreation Grants  50% match to local governments  Land acquisition  Sports fields  Boating, fishing and hunting  Water recreation  Picnic, camping and trails  Playgrounds  Natural area / open space preservation  Current deadline July 31  Current award ceiling $400,000

Scoring Systems Outdoor Priority Scoring System Compliance at previously assisted grant project sitesCompliance at previously assisted grant project sites Master plan priorities(1-15)Master plan priorities(1-15) Diversity of park and recreation opportunities(1-10)Diversity of park and recreation opportunities(1-10) Improved water-based park and recreation opportunities (1-6)Improved water-based park and recreation opportunities (1-6) Improve the geographic distribution or innovative use of park and recreation lands and facilities(1-10)Improve the geographic distribution or innovative use of park and recreation lands and facilities(1-10) Maximizes the use of development funds for basic park and recreation opportunities(1-25)Maximizes the use of development funds for basic park and recreation opportunities(1-25) Project improves park and recreation opportunities for low income, minority, elderly, and/or youth at-risk citizens(1-16)Project improves park and recreation opportunities for low income, minority, elderly, and/or youth at-risk citizens(1-16)

Scoring Systems Outdoor Priority Scoring System Matching funds from sources other than the sponsor and/or additional outside cooperation not involving match (1-20)Matching funds from sources other than the sponsor and/or additional outside cooperation not involving match (1-20) Acquisition and preservation of park and recreation lands, including publicly owned non-parkland (1-30)Acquisition and preservation of park and recreation lands, including publicly owned non-parkland (1-30) Renovation or adaptive reuse of an existing obsolete park and recreation area or facilities (1-20)Renovation or adaptive reuse of an existing obsolete park and recreation area or facilities (1-20) Environmentally responsible activities and development (1-5)Environmentally responsible activities and development (1-5) Linkage to other parks and recreation areas, neighborhoods, or public facilities (1-3)Linkage to other parks and recreation areas, neighborhoods, or public facilities (1-3) Opportunities which enhance and encourage an appreciation and preservation of site-based cultural (historical and archaeological) resources (1-5)Opportunities which enhance and encourage an appreciation and preservation of site-based cultural (historical and archaeological) resources (1-5)

Topics for Discussion  Restore second deadline (January 31 st )  Increase award ceiling to $650,000?  Enlist the help of outside reviewers with associated scoring criteria  Revise recreation diversity criteria to reflect “major” and “minor” activities? (i.e. athletic fields vs. horseshoes)  Reduce the points associated with providing recreation opportunities vs. support structures?  Delete the scoring criteria associated with site-based cultural resources  Delete (or revise?) criteria for at-risk youth programming as it is difficult to quantify  Add a criteria that awards points based on project proximity to low income communities

Topics for Discussion (cont.)  Is the number of points associated with the environmentally responsible activities and development scoring criteria adequate? Should the points be weighted according to investment and cutting edge technology?  Master Plan Criteria - Reduce update requirement to every five years - Allow the use of regional plans, etc. assuming they address specific needs and are adopted at the local level with public input) -Or is there another way to meet the planning criteria without requiring the submission of a Parks, Recreation and Open space plan?

Indoor Recreation Grants  50% match to local governments  Athletic and sports facilities  Arts and crafts  Nature centers  Senior centers  Current deadline July 31 (propose moving the deadline to January 31 st – beginning Jan. 2009)  Current award $417,563 (propose increasing the award ceiling to $750,000 or higher)

Current Scoring System Indoor Priority Scoring System Compliance at previously assisted grant project sitesCompliance at previously assisted grant project sites Master plan priorities (1-15)Master plan priorities (1-15) Diversity of indoor recreation opportunities (1-10)Diversity of indoor recreation opportunities (1-10) Geographic distribution or innovative use of public indoor recreation facilities (5-20)Geographic distribution or innovative use of public indoor recreation facilities (5-20) Matching funds from sources other than the sponsor and/or additional outside cooperation not involving match (1-20)Matching funds from sources other than the sponsor and/or additional outside cooperation not involving match (1-20) Renovation or adaptive reuse of an existing structure (1-20)Renovation or adaptive reuse of an existing structure (1-20) Project improves park and recreation opportunities for low income, minority, elderly, and/or youth at-risk citizens (1-16)Project improves park and recreation opportunities for low income, minority, elderly, and/or youth at-risk citizens (1-16) Environmentally responsible activities and development (1-5)Environmentally responsible activities and development (1-5)

Topics for Discussion  Move application deadline to January 31 st beginning Jan  Increase award ceiling to $750,000?  Previous scoring criteria discussion may also apply

Small Community Grants  50% matching grants  Communities of less than 20,000 population  $50,000 maximum  Current deadline January 31  Current award ceiling $50,000

Current Scoring System Small Community Priority Scoring System Compliance at previously assisted grant project sitesCompliance at previously assisted grant project sites Sponsor population is 2,000 or less (2)Sponsor population is 2,000 or less (2) Diversity of recreation opportunities (1-3)Diversity of recreation opportunities (1-3) Improve the geographic distribution or innovative use of park and recreation lands and facilities (1-10)Improve the geographic distribution or innovative use of park and recreation lands and facilities (1-10) Maximizes the use of development funds for basic park and recreation opportunities (1-10)Maximizes the use of development funds for basic park and recreation opportunities (1-10) Project improves park and recreation opportunities for low income, minority, elderly, and/or youth at-risk citizens (1-16)Project improves park and recreation opportunities for low income, minority, elderly, and/or youth at-risk citizens (1-16) Matching funds from sources other than the sponsor and/or additional outside cooperation not involving match (1-10)Matching funds from sources other than the sponsor and/or additional outside cooperation not involving match (1-10) Project proposes the renovation of existing obsolete recreation facilities (1-10)Project proposes the renovation of existing obsolete recreation facilities (1-10) Environmentally responsible activities and development (1-5)Environmentally responsible activities and development (1-5)

Topics for Discussion  Move application deadline to July 31 st beginning July 31 st, 2008  Increase award ceiling to $75,000?  Revise scoring criteria so single-purpose applications can be more competitive? If so, what other criteria should increase in weight?  The relative weight of demographic criteria is quite high, is this appropriate?

Community Outdoor Outreach Grants  No match required  Recreation programming for underserved populations  Outdoor education  Nature education  Activities related to TPWD mission  Current deadline February 1  Current award ceiling $30,000

Scoring Systems CO-OP Scoring System Sponsor has closed out all previous CO-OP grant projectsSponsor has closed out all previous CO-OP grant projects Proposed project’s primary purpose is to serve the following participants (2-12)Proposed project’s primary purpose is to serve the following participants (2-12) Proposed project encourages partnerships with organized groups (1-4)Proposed project encourages partnerships with organized groups (1-4) The number of program participants the proposed project will serve (1-10)The number of program participants the proposed project will serve (1-10) The extent to which the proposed project prioritizes direct service costs (1-10)The extent to which the proposed project prioritizes direct service costs (1-10) Extent to which sponsor funds and resources are committed to the project (1-4)Extent to which sponsor funds and resources are committed to the project (1-4)

Scoring Systems CO-OP Scoring System Proposed project has a direct relationship with Texas Parks & Wildlife’s programs and/or facilities (1-5)Proposed project has a direct relationship with Texas Parks & Wildlife’s programs and/or facilities (1-5) Project specifically serves youth at risk (1-3)Project specifically serves youth at risk (1-3) Project proposes activities related to Texas Parks & Wildlife initiatives (1–5)Project proposes activities related to Texas Parks & Wildlife initiatives (1–5) Project promotes outdoor educational activities (1-4)Project promotes outdoor educational activities (1-4) Has applicant fulfilled all previous CO-OP grant reimbursement requirements (negative score)Has applicant fulfilled all previous CO-OP grant reimbursement requirements (negative score)

Topics for Discussion If LBB appeal is approved, should we:  Add an additional funding cycle, possibly in May or June?  Raise the cap from current $30,000?

Recreational Trails Grants  80% match  $100,000 maximum  Local government or TPWD facilities  Trail construction  Off-road vehicle trails also eligible  Current deadline June 1  Current award ceiling $100,000

Scoring Systems Recreational Trail Grants  State Trails Advisory Committee –Bang for the Buck –Trail Opportunities Created –Geographic Distribution –Previous Awards

Boat Access Grants  75% match  $500,000 maximum  Local government or TPWD facilities  Boat Ramps, Marinas, Sewage Pumpouts  Current deadline June 30 & October 31  Current award ceiling $500,000

Administrative Issues  TDLR registration  Definition of professional services  Matching requirements  Program signs

Administrative Issues  Compliance criteria –Negative scoring criteria –Loss of eligibility (3-5 years) with appeal process  Match from other state/federal grant programs

Administrative Issues  Current review cycles Proposed cycles Outdoor July 31 July 31 and Jan. 31 Outdoor July 31 July 31 and Jan. 31 Indoor July 31 Jan. 31 (beginning 2009) Small Comm. Jan. 31 July 31 (beginning 2008) CO-OP Feb. 1 (2 cycles if funding is restored) Rec. Trails June 1 no change Boat Access June 30,Oct. 31 October 31 only Regional (currently suspended)

Administrative Issues  Current Award Ceilings Proposed Ceilings Outdoor $400,000$650,000 Indoor $417,563 $750,000 Small Comm. $50,000$75,000 CO-OP $30,000? Rec. Trails $100,000$200,000 Boat Access $500,000(no change???) Regional (currently suspended)

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