Ottawa County Park District offering $200,000 in outdoor recreation grants
PORT CLINTON - Applications are now being accepted for the 2023 Parks and Trails Improvement Grant Program, which offers $200,000 in outdoor recreation grant funding through the Park District of Ottawa County. Any Ottawa County political subdivision, public school or public library is welcome to apply for funding for improvements to public outdoor recreation facilities, green spaces or trails within the county.
The application deadline is Feb. 24.
“It’s open to any political subdivision, which includes townships and villages and any other county agency, like the Soil and Water Conservation District,” said Park District of Ottawa County Executive Director Jannah Wilson. “We also included public libraries and public schools.”
Funding safe routes for youths to use are encouraged
Schools are welcome to submit grant requests for outdoor recreation projects, including requests for funds to enhance Safe Routes to Schools projects. Safe Routes to Schools is an Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) program that provides funding for routes that “encourage and enable students in grades kindergarten to twelfth to walk or ride their bike to school” and for noninfrastructure activities related to the route, according to ODOT information.
“We included schools because there’s a lot of connectivity to schools that we’d like to see happen,” Wilson said. “Some schools could build upon the funding they received from the Safe Route to Schools program, and some need funds to get started on that. It’s a great ODOT program. This is an idea that was brought to our attention.”
In 2022, nine grants were awarded in the county
Last year, nine recipients received Parks and Trails Improvement Grants, which partially funded outdoor recreation projects. Those grants helped fund new playground equipment at Portage Park in Port Clinton, a welcome center in Marblehead and restrooms at Veterans Park in Genoa. The biggest grant recipient in 2022 was the Oak Harbor Riverwalk project, which received $59,900.
“Last year, our goal was to cast a larger net because it was our first year. We wanted to help fund as many projects as possible so people were aware of the program,” Wilson said. “This year, we may fund partial projects or full projects. It depends on how many projects are submitted and how they are scored and prioritized.”
Wilson will host informational, virtual meetings about the grant process on Wednesday, Jan. 18, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Email Wilson at jwilson@ottawacountyparksoh.org to obtain the link.
Digital applications are available at ottawacountyparksoh.org/grants. Grant applications can also be obtained by emailing Wilson or by scheduling an appointment to pick up an application at the park district office. Applications are due on Feb. 24 at 4:30 p.m. Grant recipients will be announced on March. 8.
“We’re trying to move quickly on this so grant recipients can get started on their projects,” Wilson said.
The Park District of Ottawa County office is at 3979 E Knoll Crest Dr. For more information, visit ottawacountyparksoh.org or call 419-707-4051.
Contact correspondent Sheri Trusty at sheritrusty4@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Port Clinton News Herald: Ottawa County Park District offering $200,000 in outdoor recreation grants
