DCNR Bureau of Recreation and Conservation Grant Program Overview

1
PENNSYLVANIA
Edward G. Rendell, Governor Michael
DiBerardinis, Secretary
2
The Community Conservation Partnerships Program
(C2P2)

• 2004 Pre-Application
• Grant Workshops
• Bureau of Recreation and Conservation
• 6th floor, Rachel Carson State Office Building
• P.O. Box 8475
• Harrisburg, PA 17105-8475
• 717-787-7672

3
Workshop Agenda

• Program overview
• Program intent
• Project types
• Funding sources
• Program provisions
• Application process
• Application forms
• Selection criteria
• Break-out sessions

4
Community ConservationPartnerships
Program(C2P2)Overview
5
Program Intent

• To develop and sustain partnerships between
  communities, non-profits and other organizations
  for recreation and conservation projects and
  purposesto improve the quality of life in the
  Commonwealth .

Manual Preface
6
Project Types

• Planning
• Technical Assistance
• Acquisition
• Development
• Federally Funded

Page iii
7
Project Types - Planning

• Comprehensive Recreation, Park and Open Space
  Plan
• Conservation Plan
• County Natural Area Inventory
• Feasibility Study
• County and Municipal Greenway and Open Space
  Network Plan
• Specific Greenway, Trail, of Rails-to-Trails Plan
• Snowmobile and All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Plans
• Master site plan
• Rivers conservation plan
• Coldwater Conservation Plan

Manual Pages 29-34
8
Project Types - Technical Assistance

• Education and Training
• Peer-to-Peer (Consultant assistance to resolve a
  specific issue.)
• Circuit Rider (Provide funds for regional
  organizations to hire one full-time professional
  park and recreation staff person.)

Manual Pages 36-38
9
Project Types - Acquisition

• Park and Recreation Areas
• Greenways, Trails, and Rivers Conservation
• Rails-to-Trails
• Natural and Critical Habitat Areas

Manual Page 39-42
10
Project Types - Development (Construction)

• Park and Recreation Areas
• Small Communities (lt 5,000 population, 2000
  U.S. Census Data)
• Greenways and Trails
• Rails-to-Trails Projects
• Rivers Conservation

Manual Pages 43-50
11
Project Types - Federally Funded

• Land and Water Conservation Fund
• Pennsylvania Recreational Trails

Manual Pages 51-62
12
Funding Sources

• Keystone recreation, park and
  conservation fund
• Environmental stewardship and watershed
  protection act (growing greener)
• Pennsylvania recreational trails
• Land and water conservation fund
• Snowmobile and ATV fund

13
Program Provisions

• Eligible applicants
• Public participation/community notice
• Special land use protections
• Deed restriction and control of property
• Match
• Audit, records, ineligible costs

Manual Pages 5-14
14
New Snowmobile/ATV Provision

• Approximately one-third (1/3) set-aside
• County, multi-county or regional
  authority applicants
• If demand doesnt exceed 1/3 of fund, then
  set-aside allocated to fund other Snowmobile/ATV
  projects

15
Eligible Applicants

• Municipality
• Municipal agency
• Appropriate/authorized organization
• Prequalified land trust
• Other

Manual Pages 5-6
16
Public Participation/Community Notification

• Municipal applicants must notify the general
  public and provide for general comment on the
  proposed project prior to submission of the grant
  application.
• Non-Municipal applicants must include evidence
  that local elected officials have had the
  opportunity to comment on the project.

Manual Page 7
17
Special Land Use Protections

• Governors Executive Order 2003-2 (Agricultural
  Land Preservation)
• Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory
• 717-787-3444
• Act 68 of 1999 Growing Greener)
• Other Needed Permits

18
Deed Restriction and Control of Property

• Grantees are required to place a deed restriction
  on properties acquired or donated as part of the
  project.
• Grantees must control the property proposed for
  development. (Exceptions PA recreational trails
  and snowmobile/ATV projects)

Manual Page 10
19
Match

• Equally matched
  dollar-for-dollar (50)
• Small communities no match first 20,000, 50
  for additional costs, up to total project cost of
  60,000
• Pennsylvania recreational trails snowmobile/ATV
  (20 typical, 50
  acquisitions)
• Peer-to-peer (10)
• Circuit rider (increasing match over
  4 year period)

Manual Pages 10-12
20
Match

• Cash or non-cash
• In-kind services
• Donated services
• Volunteer services
• Any source other than DCNR Bureau of Recreation
  and Conservation funds.

Manual Pages 10-12
21
Audit, Records, Ineligible Costs

• An Audit may be required to close out any grant.
• The cost of an Audit is eligible for
  reimbursement.
• Maintain records for three years.
• Ineligible costs include (but not limited to)
• Fundraising
• Lobbying
• Grant writing
• Costs incurred before the grant award

Manual Pages 12-14
22
Community ConservationPartnerships
Program(C2P2)Application Process
23
Obtain Application Package

• U.S. Mail
• In person, from regional or
  central office
• Calling DCNR [phone]
• Sending e-mail request to
• reccon_at_state.pa.us
• VIA internet
• http//www.dcnr.state.pa.us/grants

Not in the Manual
24
The Complete Grant Application

• Grant Application Submission Checklist
• Development Application Site Plan Checklist
• Grant Application Form
• Appropriate Supplemental Forms
• Project Site Location Form
• Applicant / Project Questionnaire
• Estimate of Probable Cost Non-Cash Services
• Environmental Survey
• Federal Land Water Conservation Fund
• Resolution
• Evidence of Local Elected Official Comment Period
  Prior to Application Submission

Manual Pages 67-122
25
When Must I Submit My Application?

• Applications must be
• Postmarked
• No later than
• October 13, 2004,
• Or
• Delivered
• No later than
• 500 p.m. October 13, 2004.

Manual Page 65
26
Where Do I submit my Application?

• Applications delivered or sent
• Only
• to the Bureaus central office

Manual Page 65
27
Send two copies with original signatures to
Bureau of Recreation and Conservation Rachel
Carson State Office Building P.O. Box
8475 Harrisburg, PA 17105-8475 or by
express-mail services to Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of
Recreation and Conservation 6th floor, Rachel
Carson State Office Building 400 Market
Street Harrisburg, PA 17101-2301
Manual Page 65
28
New for 2004-05   SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATION
CYCLE Deadline April 13, 2005   For the
2004-2005 (Round 11) grant funding cycle, the
Department is experimenting with a second
application period for Acquisition and Planning
projects. All application forms, instructions
and procedures as outlined in this manual, other
materials and the pre-application workshops will
remain the same except for the deadline of April
13, 2005. The majority of the acquisition and
planning funds will be awarded during the first
cycle (deadline of October 13, 2004) but some of
the grant funds will be carried over to the
second cycle for acquisition and planning
projects that were not ready by the first cycle
deadline, were submitted late or incomplete, or
have some critical timing aspect to accomplish
the project work.  
29

• Contact Your
• Regional Advisor
• About Your Project!

30
Project Selection Criteria
31
Needs Benefits Assessment (20 Points)
Explain how the project will meet the needs of
the neighborhood, community or region. How will
it improve your quality of life?

• Needs
• Reduce flooding losses
• Improve citizen health
• Reduce crime rate
• Reduce sprawl

• Benefits
• Lower repair costs
• Lower health care costs
• Improve safety
• Less time in the car

How create a trail, preserve floodplain, build
soccer fields, redevelop brownfields, create a
greenway, build recreation center, etc.
Manual Pages 15-16
32
2. Partnerships/intergovernmental Cooperation (20
Points)

• Describe how the project creates or enhances
  partnerships
• Identify and include written agreements, pledges,
  resolutions.
• Identify and quantify financial commitments (cash
  in-kind).
• Provide the organization name, contact name, and
  telephone number for all partners.

Manual Page 16
33
3. DCNR Conservation Priorities (20 Points)

• Describe how the project contributes to the
  advancement of DCNR conservation priorities

• Sound land use, urban greening, greenways
• River corridors, biodiversity
• Important bird areas, riparian buffers,
  floodplains
• Green construction/technology
• State heritage parks, Chesapeake bay program
• Open space, etc.

Manual Pages 16-17
34
4. Planning (20 Points)

• Describe how project is generally consistent with
  local, county, or regional comprehensive planning
  and zoning.
• Describe how project is consistent with or will
  produce a plan addressing local, regional, state,
  or federal recreation and conservation
  priorities.
• Describe level of public participation in the
  planning process.

Manual Pages 17-18
35
4. Planning (Continued -20 Points)

• Answer the comprehensive planning and
  zoning questions.
• Does the project support local, regional,
  state, or federal plans?
• Is the project recommended in one plan or
  multiple plans?
• Is the project identified as a priority
  in the plan(s)?
• Include excerpts from the referenced plans.

Manual Pages 17-18
36
5. Site Compatibility/Environmental Impact (15
points)

• Discuss why site was chosen/ why its
  appropriate.
• Discuss environmental impact (positive or
  negative) proposed project will have on the
  existing site conditions.
• Identify sites environmentally sensitive areas
  (wetlands, floodplains, ridge tops, steep slopes,
  other natural areas).
• Describe sites current uses and how project will
  affect those uses. Identify uses not readily
  apparent (noise or visual buffer, passive area,
  emergency access, etc.)

Manual Page 18-19
37
6. Grant Project Administration (5 points)

• This score is determined by DCNR.
• New applicantsdo a thorough job filling out
  the application.
• DCNR reserves the right to eliminate an applicant
  from funding consideration based on
  administrative problems with previous grants.

Manual Pages 19
38
7. Previous Bureau Funding (3 points)

• Score determined by DCNR
• Value is based on the number of grants awarded to
  applicant in the previous three years, from grant
  award date in 2001
• 3 points for 0 grants
• 2 points for 1 grant
• 1 point for 2 grants
• 0 points for 3 grants
• Previous planning grants are not included in
  evaluating this criteria.

Manual Page 19
39
Other Selection Considerations

• Design Issues and Standards

Not in the Manual
40
Design Issues and Standards

• Facility space requirements (FIFA, NCAA, AASHTO,
  PIAA, Olympic committee, PA bathing place manual,
  etc.)
• Facility orientation (FIFA, NCAA, PIAA, etc.)
• Surface drainage/grading (FIFA, NCAA, PIAA, USTA,
  etc.)
• Parking requirements (Pennsylvania Construction
  Code, NRPA, NPS, www.access-board.gov/ , etc.)

Not in the Manual
41
Design Issues and Standards

• ADA accessibility (federal register, ADA
  Guidelines for Playgrounds ADA Recreational
  Facilities)
• Playground safety information (ASTM www.astm.org,
  CPSC Handbook for public safety,
  CPSC
  www.cpsc.gov/cgi-bin/recalldb/pub.asp scroll down
  to playground equipment)
• Legal codes (Pennsylvania Construction Code,
  local ordinance, state law, federal law)
• Use the standard of care of a
• reasonably prudent person.

Not in the Manual
42
Design Issues and Standards

• Why follow standards and guidelines?
• They save you time and money related to
• Operation and maintenance
• Legal defense
• Insurance premiums
• Reduce complaints
• They help protect citizens from harm or injury.
• Youll improve your application score and
  selection chances!!

Not in the Manual
43
TIP

• To create a good application
• Contact your regional advisor
• Plan your project scope before submitting an
  application
• Start immediately and keep the process public
• Provide all requested information in your
  application

Not in the Manual
44
TIP

• To create a good application
• Know the scope of your project
• Develop an accurate project cost estimate
• Not helpful fancy binders repetitive
  information irrelevant information weight
  volume technology beyond our capability

Not in the Manual
45
Other Helpful Information

• Photographs
• Excerpts from existing plans or studies
• Endorsement letters
• Letters of financial support used as match
• Letters of donation used as match
• Blueprints
• Have someone else read application

46
In SummaryIf you have any questions about the
Community Conservation Partnerships Program
Grants...
47

• Contact Your
• Regional Advisor!

48

• Talk to a
• DCNR Representative
• During the Breakout Session!

49
PENNSYLVANIA
Edward G. Rendell, Governor Michael DiBerardinis,
Secretary