The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) announces the opening of the 2016 Local Government Grant Program grant cycle for funding public parks and recreation projects. OPRD will host two workshops in February to assist applicants. Large, small and planning grants are available for cities, counties, metropolitan service districts, park and recreation districts and port districts looking to fund the following types of projects: planning, development, rehabilitation, acquisition, and acquisition and development. The program is designed to help local government agencies acquire property for park purposes and fund outdoor park and recreation areas and facilities. The grants are funded from voter-approved lottery money. Applications deadlines are set for April and May depending on the type of grant. Two workshops are set: Webinar workshop: 10 a.m. to noon, Feb. 3; Live workshop: 10 a.m. to noon, Feb. 4, Salem. To register and receive workshop notification, send contact information to Mark Cowan at mark.cowan@oregon.gov. OPRD gives more than $4 million annually to Oregon communities for outdoor recreation projects and has awarded nearly $50 million in grants since 1999. Applications, a grant manual, application deadlines and other information are online at http://oprdgrants.org.
