Show me the money: Open space funding is now available

Non-profit organizations and municipalities now have the opportunity to apply for portions of $2.1 million in Parks & Open Space funds thanks to a 2007 Collin County Bond Program. Funding is available for projects including land acquisition, trails, and capital improvements for parks and open spaces located within the county.

In 2007, county residents approved a $17 million bond proposition for Parks and Open Space. Between 2009 and 2015, the county will make these funds accessible to cities and nonprofit organizations within the county.

Jeff Durham, appointed official with the county's parks and open space department, said the bond funds will match the funds contributed by the applicant.

"It's the Parks and Open Space Project-funding assistance program and essentially we do the same thing with the open space that we do for road and bridges -- provide half of the money," he said. "If they have a project they are looking to construct, or land to purchase and if it meets criteria, then we provide 50 percent of the funds."

Durham said it was a way for entities to do more with less and cities have taken advantage of the offer. The cities of McKinney, Allen, Wylie, Fairview, Prosper, Frisco, Murphy, Farmersville, Princeton, New Hope, Melissa, Anna and Richardson have all taken part in the program.

"I have been encouraging the court to spend more of our bond proceeds on county facilities that have been neglected such as Meyers Park," said Keith Self, County judge. "We are soliciting input from both county and cities and will have a review process that will recommend the projects to the commissioners' court."

The Project Funding Assistance Program has been in place since 1999 when the citizens approved a $5.75 million bond proposition for Parks and Open Space, according to the county website. Those funds were used to create Collin County's Parks and Open Space Strategic Plan and assisted with the advancement of 33 projects for twenty-five different entities over a 3-year period. In 2003, the citizens approved an $11 million bond proposition that allowed us to expand an already successful program. The 2003 funds supported the development of 45 projects for 29 different entities over a five-year period.

The deadline for submitting applications is July 8, 2011 and the Parks Foundation Advisory Board will conduct a review process between July and September. Funding recommendations will be submitted to the court in October.

The Collin County Parks Foundation Advisory Board administers the Project Funding Assistance Program. This is a reimbursement program. Applicants must have at minimum dollar for dollar in matching funds, comprised of direct cash or in-kind services, for the project being proposed.

The county recently mailed application packets to all communities and previous applicants. Applications are also available via the County website at http://www.collincountytexas.gov/parks/funding.jsp, or by contacting the Collin County Special Projects Department, 825 N. McDonald St., Suite 145, McKinney, TX 75069.

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