15 CAR Part 350 — Outdoor Recreation FUN Park Grant

Chapter XXV

Subchapter A

Subpart 1

15 CAR § 350-101 Overview {#sec-15-car-350-101 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-15-part-350--15 CAR § 350-101}

15 CAR § 350-101. Overview.

(a) The Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism’s FUN Park Grant Program administers grants for the development of public outdoor recreation facilities.

(b) These grants, which do not require a cash match by the grantee, are available to:

(1) Incorporated municipalities with populations of two thousand five hundred (2,500) or less; and

(2) Unincorporated communities sponsored by the county.

(c) The program was created for these smaller communities that are often unable to take advantage of the department’s Matching Grant Program due to a required fifty percent (50%) match by the grantee.

(d) FUN Park grants are funded through a portion of the Arkansas real property transfer tax.

History

• Codification Notes: "FUN" means facilities for underdeveloped neighborhoods. Authority: Arkansas Code § 15-12-103

15 CAR § 350-102 Application cycle {#sec-15-car-350-102 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-15-part-350--15 CAR § 350-102}

15 CAR § 350-102. Application cycle.

Application submittal deadlines are published annually in the application guide.

15 CAR § 350-103 Notification {#sec-15-car-350-103 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-15-part-350--15 CAR § 350-103}

15 CAR § 350-103. Notification.

Information relating to the grant program will be:

(1) Provided to all eligible municipalities and counties annually; and

(2) Posted on the Outdoor Recreation Grants Program website at www.outdoorgrants.com.

15 CAR § 350-104 Eligibility {#sec-15-car-350-104 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-15-part-350--15 CAR § 350-104}

15 CAR § 350-104. Eligibility.

(a) Only incorporated municipalities with populations of two thousand five hundred (2,500) or less and unincorporated communities sponsored by the county are eligible for a FUN Park grant.

(b) Grantees will not be eligible to apply for future FUN Park grants within five (5) years after they have received an award.

History

• Codification Notes: "FUN" means facilities for underdeveloped neighborhoods. Authority: Arkansas Code § 15-12-103

15 CAR § 350-105 Grant amount {#sec-15-car-350-105 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-15-part-350--15 CAR § 350-105}

15 CAR § 350-105. Grant amount.

Grant amounts and number of grants that may be awarded annually are published in the FUN Park grant application guide.

History

• Codification Notes: "FUN" means facilities for underdeveloped neighborhoods. Authority: Arkansas Code § 15-12-103

15 CAR § 350-106 Site visits {#sec-15-car-350-106 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-15-part-350--15 CAR § 350-106}

15 CAR § 350-106. Site visits.

Applicants must schedule a site visit with the Outdoor Recreation Grants Program to:

(1) Provide applicant technical assistance on facility layout;

(2) Verify site is appropriate for park development; and

(3) Verify applicant’s eligibility for a FUN Park grant.

15 CAR § 350-107 Site requirements {#sec-15-car-350-107 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-15-part-350--15 CAR § 350-107}

15 CAR § 350-107. Site requirements.

(a) Applicant must own or have at least a twenty-five-year lease on the real estate proposed for outdoor recreation development.

(b) The site must be:

(1) Suitable for the proposed development; and

(2) Available to all citizens at all reasonable times.

15 CAR § 350-108 Eligible facilities {#sec-15-car-350-108 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-15-part-350--15 CAR § 350-108}

15 CAR § 350-108. Eligible facilities.

(a) Any fixed outdoor recreation facility may be funded with FUN Park grants.

(b) FUN Park grant funding may not be used for:

(1) Land acquisition;

(2) Movable equipment; or

(3) Recreation programming.

History

• Codification Notes: "FUN" means facilities for underdeveloped neighborhoods. Authority: Arkansas Code § 15-12-103

15 CAR § 350-109 Cost estimates {#sec-15-car-350-109 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-15-part-350--15 CAR § 350-109}

15 CAR § 350-109. Cost estimates.

Applicant must provide cost estimates for all facilities included in their application.

15 CAR § 350-110 Accessibility {#sec-15-car-350-110 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-15-part-350--15 CAR § 350-110}

15 CAR § 350-110. Accessibility.

All facilities funded by through the FUN Park Grant Program must conform with accessibility guidelines established by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.

History

• Codification Notes: "FUN" means facilities for underdeveloped neighborhoods. Authority: Arkansas Code § 15-12-103

15 CAR § 350-111 Playground safety {#sec-15-car-350-111 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-15-part-350--15 CAR § 350-111}

15 CAR § 350-111. Playground safety.

All playground facilities funded by the FUN Park Grant Program must conform with playground safety guidelines established by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.

History

• Codification Notes: "FUN" means facilities for underdeveloped neighborhoods. Authority: Arkansas Code § 15-12-103

15 CAR § 350-112 Architectural and engineering services — Grant administration {#sec-15-car-350-112 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-15-part-350--15 CAR § 350-112}

15 CAR § 350-112. Architectural and engineering services — Grant administration.

The professional services of a licensed architect or engineer are required to oversee design, bidding, and construction of the grant project.

15 CAR § 350-113 Selection process {#sec-15-car-350-113 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-15-part-350--15 CAR § 350-113}

15 CAR § 350-113. Selection process.

(a) Applications are considered by a Grants Advisory Committee whose members are appointed by the Governor.

(b) Committee recommendations are forwarded to the Secretary of the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism for review.

15 CAR § 350-114 Contract {#sec-15-car-350-114 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-15-part-350--15 CAR § 350-114}

15 CAR § 350-114. Contract.

(a) The Outdoor Recreation Grants Program will prepare a contract identifying facilities that may be developed with grant funding once a grant is awarded.

(b) The grantee may begin development only after the contract is signed by:

(1) The mayor or county judge; and

(2) The Secretary of the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism.

15 CAR § 350-115 Release of funds {#sec-15-car-350-115 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-15-part-350--15 CAR § 350-115}

15 CAR § 350-115. Release of funds.

(a) Grant funds will be released to the grantee only after a contract is signed by:

(1) The mayor or county judge; and

(2) The Secretary of the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism.

(b) The grantee may be required to return funds to the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism if development has not begun within one (1) year of contract.

15 CAR § 350-116 Procurement {#sec-15-car-350-116 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-15-part-350--15 CAR § 350-116}

15 CAR § 350-116. Procurement.

The grantee is responsible for following procurement laws applicable to their jurisdiction.

15 CAR § 350-117 Financial records {#sec-15-car-350-117 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-15-part-350--15 CAR § 350-117}

15 CAR § 350-117. Financial records.

The grantee is responsible for:

(1) Maintaining all financial records pertaining to the grant project; and

(2) Providing the Outdoor Recreation Grant Program copies of invoices and cancelled checks or other proof of payment verifying that all grant funds have been spent on eligible costs.