Access Grant Overview

Playful City USA

2012 Playful City USA Access Grant Overview

KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to saving play for America's children. Our mission is to create great playspaces through the participation and leadership of communities. A National Partner of KaBOOM!, Dr Pepper Snapple Group has made a $15 million, three-year commitment to the organization as part of the company’s Let’s Play initiative. Let’s Play is a community partnership led by Dr Pepper Snapple Group designed to get kids active nationwide. Through Let's Play, KaBOOM! and Dr Pepper Snapple Group will provide the tools, places and inspiration to help communities increase physical activity.

As part of the Let’s Play initiative, exclusive Playground Access Grants are available to KaBOOM!-recognized Playful City USA communities. In 2012, KaBOOM! will provide six $15,000 Playground Access Grants and four $30,000 Playground Access Grants. These grants provide funds for the joint use of playground facilities. Joint use policies and practices can provide communities with access to safe and attractive playgrounds while incurring little to none of the additional costs needed to build new playgrounds.

A joint use agreement is a formal agreement between two separate government entities, often a city and a school district. This agreement sets forth the terms and conditions for the shared use of public property. Usually, each party under a joint use agreement helps fund the development, operation, and maintenance of the facilities that will be shared. Therefore, no single party is fully liable for the costs and responsibilities associated with the recreational facilities.

Goal
The intended outcome of these funds and this project is to develop and adopt a joint use policy for some or all of a school district’s playgrounds.

Joint Use Agreements Defined
For the purposes of this grant, we define joint use of school facilities as the following:

  • The school gates are unlocked outside of school hours so community members can use the playgrounds for unstructured play.
  • A local government agency (e.g. Parks and Recreation) or non-profit organization (e.g. Boys and Girls Club) uses playgrounds for public use including after school or weekend physical activity programs.

Eligibility
Please note that you will need to demonstrate how you meet these eligibility requirements in your grant application.

  • Become a KaBOOM!-recognized Playful City USA community honored in 2012.
  • Commit to convening a Play Task Force or Committee to support the joint use agreement.
  • Receive the support of the target school district administration (demonstrated by a letter of support and signature on the Letter of Agreement).
  • Have demonstrated experience working with coalitions and community partners.
  • The target school district has no independent, standalone joint use district policy currently in place, but could have joint use practices (as defined above) in place at one or more schools in the district.
  • The recipient must be willing to develop and pursue adoption of a stand-alone district level joint use policy.
  • Communities who receive a grant will have 12 months to implement the joint use agreement and utilize the grant funds. Grantees must provide a full budget at the end of the grant period.

Applicants that meet the following criteria will be given higher priority:

  • Utilizing other joint use agreements for additional types of playspaces: tracks, fields, gymnasiums, pools, and meeting spaces, given the goal of opening additional playgrounds has already been fulfilled.
  • A track record of collaborative projects with the Parks and Recreation Department, schools, and planning groups.
  • Experience with pre-existing joint use agreements implemented on a smaller scale.
  • Community support and interest for great access to playgrounds.

Budget
KaBOOM! will select six grantees in 2012 for $15,000 Playground Access Grants. The $15,000 Access Grants are available to cities with populations of less than 100,000 people. Each $15,000 Access Grant shall be used to support the opening of at least four existing playgrounds that are not open to the public due to legal or management issues. Communities that receive the $15K Access Grants will agree to demonstrate a match of at least 50% ($7,500) in the form of fundraised support, in-kind services and other funds. In-kind fees can include staff time and other resources devoted to this project.

KaBOOM! will select four grantees in 2012 for $30,000 Playground Access Grants. The $30,000 Access Grants are available to cities with populations of 100,000 people or greater. Each $30,000 Access Grant shall be used to support the opening of at least eight existing playgrounds that are not open to the public due to legal or management issues. Communities that receive the $30,000 Access Grants will agree to fundraise a match of at least 50% ($15,000) in the form of in-kind services and other funds. In-kind fees can include staff time and other resources devoted to this project.

Both the $15,000 and $30,000 Access Grants will be provided in two equal phases. The first half of the grant will be distributed upon completion of the Letter of Agreement. Awardees will receive the second half of the grant after successfully submitting a satisfactory mid-year progress report. At the end of the grant year, awardees must complete an end year progress report demonstrating the agreed upon joint use agreements are fully implemented. If the grantee is not successful in fulfilling the grant requirements, the grantee will be liable for full reimbursement of granted funds.

Example Allowable Expenses

  • Training and technical assistance
  • Minimum fencing and assistance for walking trails located on school grounds
  • Utilities and other building operating costs related to the extra use of the facility
  • Legal fees
  • Contract security services
  • Marketing campaign focused on joint use agreement or the community initiative
  • Program and activity supplies, approved in writing by KaBOOM!
  • Other expenses, approved in writing by KaBOOM!

Unallowable Expenses for Grant Funds (Can be included in match component.)

  • Staff salaries, nor overtime funding
  • New playground construction
  • Administrative costs
  • Equipment costs above $1,000 unless approved by KaBOOM!
  • Supplementing public school state requirements
  • Other expenses, determined in writing by KaBOOM!

About the Grant
A National Partner of KaBOOM!, Dr Pepper Snapple Group has made a $15 million, three-year commitment to the organization as part of the company’s Let’s Play initiative. Let’s Play is a community partnership led by Dr Pepper Snapple Group designed to get kids active nationwide. Through Let’s Play, KaBOOM! and Dr Pepper Snapple Group will provide the tools, places and inspiration to help communities increase physical activity.