Community Parks & Trails Grant

The Portage Park District, guided by its mission to conserve Portage County’s natural heritage and provide opportunities for its appreciation and enjoyment, has launched the 2025 Community Parks and Trails Grant Program as a pilot initiative. This program allocates $100,000 from levy funds in the 2025 budget to support local community projects aligned with the district’s mission. As a pilot effort, the program may be amended in the future based on its success, and feedback from communities is welcomed to help shape subsequent years. Should it prove effective, the district hopes to continue offering this grant on an annual basis. Applicants may request between $1,000 and $25,000 for their projects, with funding provided strictly on a reimbursement basis. Eligible sponsors are limited to villages and townships within Portage County. Cities, schools, and nonprofits are not eligible to apply directly, though nonprofits may participate by partnering with an eligible township or village. Projects must involve facilities that are owned or held under a minimum 25-year lease by the applicant, and they must be open for public use. Examples of eligible costs include improvements to existing parks and trails or the development of new facilities, and projects may cover both land acquisition and site development. Qualifying acquisition projects involve obtaining title, long-term easements, or leases for park or conservation purposes, with associated costs such as appraisals, surveys, and environmental assessments allowed. Development projects may include creating or enhancing trails and their facilities, picnic shelters, restrooms, nature play areas, park amenities such as benches and bike racks, landscaping with native plants, installing signage, and developing various recreational facilities. Planning, designing, and engineering related to these projects are also eligible. Ineligible uses of funds include routine maintenance, salaries, athletic fields and courts for team sports, swimming pools, and any projects that negatively impact natural resources. The application process requires submission of a completed form addressing general project details, a detailed description, budget information, accessibility accommodations, and planning or public input evidence. Successful applicants must enter into a grant agreement with the Park District and meet all legal requirements related to nondiscrimination, labor, accessibility, and compliance with relevant codes and regulations. Reimbursement will occur upon project completion and submission of required documentation, including invoices, payment proof, and photographs of the finished project and grant acknowledgment signage. The 2025 timeline begins April 1 with the program launch and availability of staff support for applicants. Completed applications must be postmarked or emailed by 4:00 p.m. on September 1, 2025. Reviews and scoring will take place from September 1 through October 20, with awards authorized at the Park Board’s October meeting. Grant agreements will be executed by November 17, and the grant period will close December 31, 2026, by which date all project expenses must be submitted for reimbursement. Selection criteria include the project’s purpose and justification, community support, financial need, accessibility, current investment levels in the community, alignment with the district’s mission, and the completeness of the application. Applicants may contact the Portage Park District at 705 Oakwood Street, Suite G-4, Ravenna, Ohio 44266, by phone at 330-297-7728, or by email at admin@portageparkdistrict.org for more information or assistance. This program represents a significant opportunity for eligible Portage County communities to enhance public parks and trails in ways that preserve natural resources and promote public enjoyment.