Notice of Funds Available, FY 2000-2001, 1st Cycle

Park Playground Accessibility and Recycling Grant Program

This grant application period is now closed. 

The Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air, and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2000 (Villaraigosa-Keeley Act) established the Park Playground Accessibility and Recycling Grant Program to be administered by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). The purpose of the grant program is twofold: first, to upgrade playgrounds using recycled-content materials; second, to ensure that playgrounds comply with State regulations for playgrounds and are accessible in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. "Playground" refers to an improved outdoor area designed, equipped, and set aside as a play area for children. Grants shall not exceed $50,000 for any one playground. The CIWMB reserves the right to fund individual phases of selected proposals and may therefore fund an amount less than requested. The CIWMB will award the grants on a competitive basis.

Ineligible Projects
Projects that don’t meet the definition of a playground are ineligible for funding, such as tennis courts, skateboard facilities, swimming pools, athletic playing fields, athletic courts, etc.

Funding
The Legislature appropriated $2.558 million to fund the Park Playground Accessibility and Recycling Grant Program. The grant term is from June 30, 2001 to February 28, 2003.

Applicant Eligibility
Only park districts meeting the definition of "district" as defined in the Villaraigosa–Keeley Act (Public Resources Code section 5096.308 (e)) can apply. Only one application per district will be accepted for this grant cycle.

Each Applicant Must:

• Guarantee that at least 50 percent of the grant funds awarded and used for the improvement or replacement of playground equipment or facilities will be expended on recycled-content materials.
• Demonstrate its ability to provide a 50 percent match (of the grant), which may be reduced to a 25 percent match (of the grant), upon a finding by the CIWMB that the 50 percent match requirement would impose an extreme financial hardship on the applicant. An eligible applicant may apply for a 25 percent match if the proposed playground project is located in an Enterprise Zone designated by the California Trade and Commerce Agency.
• Show that the playground has had an initial inspection conducted by a playground inspector certified by the National Playground Safety Institute, to satisfy the regulations put forth by the Department of Health Services. This inspection must have occurred after January 1, 1998.

To Request an Application
E-mail your request to parkbond@calrecycle.ca.gov; or leave a message requesting an application on the CIWMB's Grant Hotline at (916) 341-6441. Applications available in late October 2000.

Question/Answer Period
To assist prospective grantees, the CIWMB has established a question-and-answer period for grant programs. If you have any program-specific questions after reviewing the application, please submit them in writing to the California Integrated Waste Management Board by December 15, 2000. The questions and answers will be compiled and mailed to those requesting applications and placed on this Web site. See questions and answers (or download Excel 97/2000, 60 KB).

Application Deadline
Completed applications must be received in the CIWMB's office by 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 31, 2001. Late applications will not be considered for grant funding and will be returned.

Park Accessibility Grant Home Page