Page 63 - Illinois Association of Park Districts Benefits of Membership 2017 - 2018

Background
Park districts, forest preserves, conservation and recreation agencies can no longer rely exclusively on tax dollars for annual operating expenses. Fees and charges for programs and activities have become the standard practice. This combination of tax dollars coupled with fees, charges and other funding sources is essential to keep program costs and tax levies at acceptable levels. Resident taxpayers and program users alike find the use of fees for specific programs and activities to be a reasonable and fair approach to offering quality programs. In many cases, nonresidents can also participate in programs and activities by paying an increased fee.
IAPD members are familiar with the wide array of federal and state grants currently available and aggressively pursue these funds for such purposes as: land acquisitions, park developments, facility improvements, trail and greenway developments, ecosystem restoration, museum upgrades, historic restoration, cultural events, water resource improvements, youth-at-risk and beyond-school programs, fish and wildlife habitat restoration, programs and activities for young and old, as well as recreation programs and facilities for those with special needs and challenges.
Some of the grants that advance park and recreation purposes include:
 Federal: Land & Water Conservation Fund, Rivers and Trails Conservation Act (RTCA), Urban Park and Recreation Recovery, Inter-Surface Modal Transportation Enhancement Act, Transportation Enhancement Act 21, Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA)
 State: Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development, Bikeways, Recreational Trails Program, Urban and Community Forest Grants, C2000, Museum Grants, Wildlife Preservation Funds, Illinois Conservation Foundation Grants, Illinois Arts Council Grants, DOA-Sustainable Agriculture Grants, IEPA- Clean Waters Grants, IDOT Trail Enhancement Program.
Many member agencies are also pursuing other sources for grants from private foundations interested in supporting community development programs and activities. While matching local needs with a private foundation is often challenging, IAPD members continue to research and pursue these opportunities.
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