LWCF - Land and Water Conservation Fund State and Local Assistance Program (FY24 - II)

The following criteria will be used by the Department for evaluating and ranking grant applications. See below for criteria descriptions and weighting.
1. Statewide Outdoor Recreation Priorities and Project Need - 60%
a. 35% is based on the extent to which the project addresses the following major outdoor recreation/conservation priorities identified in the state plan:
i. protection or enhancement of a State or locally significant natural area, or threatened/endangered species habitat, or an area identified in a Wildlife Action Plan;
ii. protection or enhancement of significant wildlife habitat;
iii. protection or enhancement of natural wetland areas;
iv. promoting conservation education opportunities;
v. promoting recreational use of Illinois' surface waters;
vi. protection or recreational use of linear greenways (excluding bike & snowmobile trail construction);
vii. interagency cooperation in providing and/or effectively utilizing local recreation resources;
viii. enhancing recreational opportunities for minority and less affluent populations;
ix. promoting adaptive reuse of properties for open space and park purposes;
x. use of resource conservation elements and/or native landscaping.
b. 25% is based on a local "needs assessment" or comparison of 1) the existing supply of recreational facilities per capita for the proposed project component(s) to a statewide median as calculated by the IDNR in its statewide planning process and 2) the existing supply of local open space/parkland acreage, measured in acres/1000 population for particular park types (e.g., neighborhood, community parks, etc.), to the statewide median and 3) the availability of similar park facilities within the proposed project site's service area.* If multiple entities overlap or share the same boundaries within a community, all existing facilities are considered.
* The current statewide average for the supply of local open space and parkland acreage according to the Illinois Recreation Facilities Inventory (IRFI) is approximately 11.35 ac/1000 population for overall community parkland acreage and approximately 52.69 ac/1000 population for regional parkland acreage. The IDNR uses criteria that approximately 20% of local parkland/open space acreage should be allocated to neighborhood or mini-park facilities serving an area up to ½ mile radius and approximately 80% allocated to community parks serving a community-wide area or up to 2-mile radius in high density urban areas.
A local/regional acreage standard or goal lower than the above indicated statewide median figures may be accepted by the IDNR for a given locality if the variant standard is supported by that agency's comprehensive recreation plan. Verification of a different local/regional acreage standard or goal should be submitted to the IDNR as part of the LWCF application.
i. Priorities for LWCF acquisition assistance will be given to local agencies with less acreage than the statewide median for the particular park type and recreation facilities being proposed in the application.
ii. Priorities for LWCF development assistance is given to local agencies having a park system (supply) that meets or exceeds the current statewide median based on acres/1000 population, parkland diversity and distribution, and where a deficiency of the proposed recreation facilities exists.
Consideration is given to projects that provide the first and only park site in the service area, if the site is the first passive or active site in the service area or if the project provides a brand-new recreational element to the service area.
2. Local Planning - 10%
Consideration is given to projects identified in or consistent with adopted local plans AND where direct public participation in the planning process and/or project proposal is clearly evident. Current plans (less than 5 years old) and grass-roots public participation in the planning process are highest priority. To be fully considered as an acceptable planning document, basic elements such as an overall needs assessment, current facilities inventory and direct constituent input should be included.
Please refer to IDNR’s Community Park and Recreation Planning guide for detailed information on planning. It is recommended that a series of public meetings be held for the proposed project. Any additional sources of public input (referendums, surveys, open houses, fundraisers, etc.) are also strongly encouraged.
Projects not identified in local plans that represent unique or unforeseen opportunities are given partial credit IF the proposal is generally consistent with local recreation/open space objectives and strong public support is evident.
(NOTE: The level of public involvement and support for a project is a critical factor considered under this evaluation category.)
3. Site Characteristics and Development Plan - 25%
Projects are evaluated primarily in terms of the project site's suitability for the proposed recreation uses including considerations of 1) physical characteristics such as terrain, drainage, adjacent land uses, soil conditions, vegetation, etc. 2) site accessibility factors including safe pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular access and sufficient parking; and 3) overall site plan considering such factors as creativity, sensitivity to environmental factors, diversity of recreation opportunities, and neatness.
The site development plan submitted should be accurate, neat and show good design.
4. Project Special Considerations - 5%
The following are also considered in the evaluation of projects:
i. Projects providing initial access to, and development of, an undeveloped park site.
ii. Projects that are part of the overall economic development of an area.
iii. Previous amount of assistance awarded to the local agency (fair share factor).
iv. Projects being undertaken by newly established recreation agencies or incorporated municipalities (5 years old or less)
v. Projects improving or increasing necessary recreation opportunities in high density urban areas.
5. Project Penalty Considerations
A local agency may be penalized during project evaluation for failure to contact and discuss the proposed project application with IDNR grants staff prior to application submittal, as requested, AND for poor performance in the execution of previous LWCF projects, responding to IDNR requests for necessary application information, the ability to maintain existing recreation/public facilities, or providing required post-completion compliance certification information regarding prior grant projects.

Applications for funding assistance will not be considered by the Department if 1) an unresolved program violation exists relative to a previous grant project or 2) the local applicant has failed to provide local recreation facilities information as requested by the Department for the Illinois Recreation Facilities Inventory (IRFI).

Merit-Based Review Appeals Process
In compliance with GATA, applicants have the right to appeal the evaluation process but not the evaluation score. More information is available at:
http://ilga.gov/commission/JCAR/admincode/044/044070000D03500R.html