FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 3, 2014
DEP AWARDS GRANTS FOR LOCAL RECREATION PROJECTS
~Governor and Legislature fund $2.4 million for community projects~
TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Environmental
Protection’s Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program has granted more than $2.4 million for 51 outdoor recreation projects in 26 counties.
The Florida Recreational Development
Assistance Program is a competitive grant program, funded by the Florida Legislature, which provides financial
assistance to local governments to develop and/or acquire land for public
outdoor recreational purposes.
“This program helps local communities acquire
and develop outdoor spaces for residents,” said Rick Mercer, director of DEP's Office of Operations. “We are pleased that the Governor and
Legislature support this program and local communities.”
Grant
applications were received between Sept. 16 and Sept. 30 last year.
Forty-seven projects were funded up to
$50,000 and four projects were funded for lesser amounts. Matching funds are
not required for grants at this level. Each grantee has up to three years to
complete the project.
A few of the projects funded by these grants are listed below:
-
Renovation
of playground equipment, picnic facilities, new bike trails and RV hookups at the Mariana Educational Recreational Expo Complex in Marianna, Jackson County;
-
Construction of playground
and picnic facilities at Bernice G. Jackson Park in Brevard County;
- Construction of playground,
parking, ADA restrooms, basketball court and baseball field at Larkin Park in
Umatilla, Lake County; and
-
Construction of picnic
facilities, renovation of soccer field and playground improvements at Village
Green in the Village of Key Biscayne in Miami-Dade County.
The grants section of the Bureau of Financial
Management administers grants to local governments through the Florida
Recreation Development Assistance Program and the Land and Water Conservation
Fund. Eligible participants include all county governments,
municipalities in Florida and other legally constituted local governmental
entities with the responsibility for providing outdoor recreational sites and
facilities for the general public.
More information can be found HERE.
| 
