Section 3025.50  Eligible Project Costs

a)         Grant assistance may be obtained for the following items:

1)         Land acquisition costs (fee simple title or permanent easement, etc.) for public park and/or conservation purposes, including associated eligible appraisal costs.  Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, acquisition of land for the following:

A)        general park purposes such as community and neighborhood parks and playfields;

B)        frontage on public surface waters for recreation use;

C)        open space/conservation purposes to protect floodplains, wetlands, natural areas, wildlife habitat and unique geologic or biologic features; and

D)        additions to such areas.

2)         Outdoor recreation area development costs (initial facility construction and/or rehabilitation) including, but not necessarily limited to, playfields, playcourts, playground equipment, picnic facilities, trails, camping areas, outdoor water sport facilities, nature study areas, and winter sport facilities as well as associated support facilities such as parking areas, access roads, shelters, interpretive centers, restrooms, safety lighting, potable water supply and other directly related support facilities. Professional design services deemed necessary for proper design and construction of the project are also eligible.

b)         Acquisition of land from another public agency (excluding school districts) is not eligible for OSLAD grant assistance.

c)         Project costs for which assistance is sought cannot be incurred by the project applicant prior to grant approval notification or Department authorization.  Costs incurred prior to Department approval are ineligible for grant assistance.  For acquisition projects, costs are considered incurred when property deed, lease or other conveyance is accepted by the local sponsor or first payment is made on the project property or to an escrow account for the property.  In addition, no purchase agreement, option, etc., or price negotiations shall be entered into without Department approval. Development project costs are considered incurred on the date construction contracts are signed or actual physical work begins on the project site or project materials are delivered.

d)         No grant shall be awarded for the acquisition or development of land that will not be available for general public outdoor recreation use.

(Source:  Amended at 39 Ill. Reg. 1145, effective December 31, 2014)