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BY ETSY 130WE THE GRANT FINDER Building Blocks � .� { More ways to write better grants.. . How to make your project stand out to decision makers. An earlier article this year focused One project in Orange Township, for recreation by redefining projects— on ways to differentiate grant Ohio, created a universally accessible Innovative projects across the nation are applications amongst the competi- playground for children as part of an occurring not because of changing fund- tion and stand out to ensure funding overall park master plan. The project ing programs, but because of how we 'success (see Parks & Rec Business, April included equipment designed for visual- define, and redefine recreation to meet 2003, page 34). ly and physically challenged children, the interests, needs and overall enjoy- As you took to take advantage of including Braille signage and other ment of all ages of populations. federal funding for recreation Projects, enhancements,which made the facility a Redefining the TEA-21 Recreational below are some additional ways that you needed enhancement for a growing resi- Trail Program: President Bush recently might be able to differentiate your appli- dential area. signed the extension of Transporta- cation to ensure success: tion Equity Act for the 1. Build user educa- 21st Century (TEA-21), tion into the project— which would have expired Empowering users of recre- is on September 30. The aLion facilities and projects Recreational Trail Program with educational signs, included in that funding boards and materialss i is s a source is a competitive pro- lis trong way to tie a funding gram that provides approxi- ........... program's goals to your mately $50 million nation- project. ally for projects that pro- Recreational trails can vide, renovate or maintain often be enhanced with sig- recreational trails, trailhead nage about trees that are This is the Summit County Trail and Greenway in Akron, Ohio. Also and trailside facilities. common to the trail,indige- shown is the portage trailmarker. The trailmarker shows cultural history The five-month Men- nous species of plants and of the trial, how the Inidans used the area as a place where they carried sion just signed by President animals,and learning mate- canoes between two major rivers, the.Cuyahoga and Tuscarawas. Bush authorizes the federal rial for passersby government to keep operaL- Use of interpretive boards about plant Incorporating "universal accessi- ing at almost half of its full year budget species and the life cycles of plants and bility"into the project helped the town- authority until the extension runs Out in trees is a great way to enhance projects. In ship earn the entire allocation of fund- March 2004. addition, including historical or cultural ing available for the entire county for the In other words, this may be a final markers along a park or a path also project. change prior to any additional exten- enhances quality of life and the overall 3. Access to regional transporta- sions to take a shot at trail funding.With recreation experience for the user. tion—Focus on the location of the pro- the strict deadlines in TEA-21 prior to Think of including health-related ject to regional and local transportation the President's recent action, the pro- information for walkers, or enhancing resources,such as metro-bus or rail sys- gram would have literally cut off fund- maps of project areas with focus points, tems that might be available. ing for new trail projects. highlighted with signs along the way. Include mass transit materials Many states have changed their Consider your project an outdoor class- which link the project LO outlying areas, deadlines to meet the shorter time frame room. not jUSL the immediate community and you may want to check with your 2. Universal accessibility—Open Build upon local populations that may staL8 program administrator for the dead- your project to use by all ages of adults be in neighboring communities and line at www.fhwa.dot.go�,/environment/ and children,including physically,men- request letters of support or link with rtpstate.htm. tally, or visually challenged persons. Go other communities as part of the appli- To help your application be more above and beyond the requirements for cation process. competitive, you may wish to diversify i access. 4. Rethink familiar funding sources the common trail project and redefine a wparkwndrecbusines5=m I JANUARY2004 I PARKS&RECBUSLIMSS