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The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is offering nearly $6 million in grants to purchase and improve public outdoor recreation areas across the state.
Mahoning County has $93,297 in funding available and Trumbull County has $81,896 available, according to the ODNR website.
Applicants may request up to $150,000 for a single project during the grant period.
"The NatureWorks program gives us a chance to invest in Ohio communities," ODNR Director Mary Mertz said. "We always want to encourage people to spend time outdoors. This program gives them a chance to make their local outdoor recreation sites better for their families, friends and neighbors."
NatureWorks is a state-funded grant program that provides up to 75 percent of project cost assistance to Ohio municipalities, counties, townships, joint recreation districts, park districts and conservancy districts for acquisition or development of public outdoor recreation areas. Projects can include hiking trails, picnic shelters, nature centers and more.
Applicants are encouraged to include one or more of the following criteria in their application:
• Acquisition and / or protection of land primarily for preservation of habitat, wetlands, forests, rivers, and / or lakes;
• Primarily a land-based trail project;
• Primarily a paddler access to waterway project;
• Replacement / renovation / adaptation of existing deteriorated or outdated publicly used park facility.
Applications must be postmarked on or before June 1. Recommendation announcements are planned for the fall. The grant period for awarded projects will expire on Dec. 31, 2023.
NatureWorks projects are funded through the Ohio Parks and Natural Resources Bond Issue, which was approved by Ohioans in November 1993. Additional legislation authorized the creation of the NatureWorks Grant Program.
Since NatureWorks' inception, the grant has funded more than 2,300 public park projects in all 88 counties.
Last year, Hartford trustees built a pavilion at the township center green with a $59,000 NatureWorks grant. In 2019, Weathersfield trustees used an approximately $76,000 ODNR grant to purchase two plots of land to expand the parking area at the township park. In 2016, Weathersfield used a NatureWorks grant to build a gazebo at the park.
In 2015, Kinsman used a NatureWorks grant to build a new restroom and concession facility at its township park.