The Access to Recreation Program was established at the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln through a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The original grant funded a navigation system at Southwind Park in Springfield, Illinois, and included a challenge grant to build an endowment supporting accessible recreation. Community donations helped meet the challenge, resulting in ongoing grantmaking to support inclusive recreational activities.
This program assists nonprofit organizations and certain public entities in providing accessible recreation for individuals with disabilities. Recreation may include adaptive sports, games, programs, and capital improvements designed for individuals with sensory, physical, cognitive, or emotional disabilities. The goal is to remove barriers so all individuals, regardless of ability, can participate in indoor or outdoor recreation.
Funding is available for both programmatic and capital projects. Programmatic examples include inclusive athletic events, performances, or fitness programs that are designed for or feature people with disabilities while being open to the broader public. While preference may be given to programs that take place at Southwind Park, this is not a requirement for funding.
Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, a faith-based group offering secular services to the public, a public or private school proposing projects beyond standard budgets, or a qualifying government or municipal entity. Projects must primarily serve residents of Sangamon County, Illinois.
The maximum grant request is $3,000, and total funds available are $6,000. Projects must be submitted completely, with all required documents, to be considered. The application period is currently open and will close on July 11, 2025, at 11:59 PM. The program may continue annually, and applicants are advised to prepare for future rounds accordingly.
For more information and to apply, applicants must create or log in to an account on the application platform. It is essential that applications fully address how their project aligns with the goals of accessible recreation and provide a detailed project proposal.
