To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Gini Pingenot, Director, Open Spaces
Prepared By:
prepared
Sandra Bottoms, Grants Administrator, Open Spaces
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presenter
Presenter: Sandra Bottoms, Grants Administrator, Open Spaces
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Subject:
title
1:00 PM *2025 Open Space Grant Award Recommendations
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
Open Spaces staff will present recommendations regarding the 2025 Open Space grant awards and request consideration by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) of eight standard grant proposals, two small grant proposals, and one planning grant proposal totaling $4,825,280 as presented on the attached 2025 Open Space Grants ranking sheet.
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Background and Discussion: In accordance with the Arapahoe County Open Space Resolution, 12% of Open Space Sales and Use Tax revenue is invested in Arapahoe County communities through a grants program. Each year, incorporated municipalities and special districts that provide outdoor recreation services are invited to submit proposals for eligible open space, park, and trail projects. An evaluation team made up of Open Space and Trails Advisory Board (OSTAB) members and County staff review the grant applications and make recommendations to OSTAB and the BOCC regarding the approval, conditional approval, or denial of each application. Since 2005, the program has invested more than $62 million in grant funding in 294 projects throughout the County.
In September 2024, the BOCC approved an allocation of $5.5 million for the 2025 grant cycle.
This year, six agencies submitted a total of 11 grant proposals (eight standard grants, two small grants, and one planning grant) requesting a total of $4,825,280, with total matching funds of nearly $12.7 million.
After an initial staff review to confirm eligibility, a team of evaluators consisting of five OSTAB members and five County staff members reviewed the applications, participated in site visits and evaluator meetin...
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