FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 15, 2014
DEP ACCEPTING GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR FLORIDA RECREATION DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
~Local government grant opportunity to enhance public outdoor recreation~
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program (FRDAP) is a state-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. The 2015-2016 FRDAP submission cycle opened Monday, Oct. 13 and will close Friday, Oct. 31.
Municipal and county governments, or other legally constituted entities with the legal responsibility to provide public outdoor recreation, can apply for FRDAP funds. The maximum grant an applicant may apply for is $200,000 and projects over $50,000 have a local match requirement. Applicants can use cash, the value of undeveloped land owned by the applicant (subject to conditions) and in-kind services to match grant funds.
“These grants help provide opportunities for communities to expand and improve their local parks,” said Katy Fenton, DEP deputy secretary of land & recreation. “We encourage local governmental entities to apply for FRDAP grants and help contribute to preserving Florida’s natural and cultural resources.”
A proposed FRDAP project must be for one of the three following categories: acquisition of land for public outdoor recreational purposes, development and/or renovation of land for public outdoor recreational purposes or construction, and/or renovation of a public recreational trail. If an acquisition project receives an FRDAP grant, the applicant must develop the acquired site for public outdoor recreation use within three years.
At the close of the submission cycle, eligible applications are evaluated by the department according to the Florida Administrative Code and assigned a final score. Based on the scores, the department submits a recommended priority list to the Florida Legislature for funding consideration. Additional information, including the 2015-2016 FRDAP application, can be found here. |
About the Florida Department of Environmental Protection
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s principal environmental agency, created to protect, conserve and manage Florida’s environment and natural resources. The department enforces federal and state environmental laws, protects Florida’s air and water quality, cleans up pollution, regulates solid waste management, promotes pollution prevention, and acquires environmentally sensitive lands for preservation. The agency also maintains a statewide system of parks, trails and aquatic preserves. To view the department’s website log on to www.dep.state.fl.us.
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