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Parks

Pivot Tiny Homes

Parks & Public Space Initiative/Margaret Annis Boys Trust

The Parks & Public Space Initiative supports the beautification, development and activation of neighborhood/community parks, school parks, trails and other public lands. This initiative grew out of the Margaret Annis Boys Trust, which was established through a gift from Miss Boys’ estate in 1991 to support and encourage landscaping and beautification projects in parks, medians and other public lands in Oklahoma City. Grant awards will vary depending on the size and complexity of the project. In addition to funding, Oklahoma City Community Foundation staff will provide project expertise.

Application Process

  1. Contact Lanc Gross at (405) 606-2957 or [email protected] no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, to discuss your proposed project and ensure it meets the guidelines.
  2. Check with Your Local Municipality prior to applying to see if you need permission or an agreement to make improvements within a city park or right-of-way.
  3. Submit a Letter of Interest (LOI)
    All potential applicants must fill out an online LOI form no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 8, 2023. To complete an LOI, go to our online grant portal (click here) and refer to the instructions on the homepage to log in.
    1. Log in.
    2. Select the “Apply” icon in the top left-hand corner of your screen.
    3. Input the access code PARK24.
  4. Complete an Official Application
    If you meet the eligibility requirements, you will receive an email granting you access to the official application. The deadline to apply is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 15, 2023.

Please direct all login and access questions to Lanc Gross – [email protected].

Important Dates

  • Grant Application Opens: Tuesday, October 10, 2023
  • Grant Information Meeting: 2 p.m. on Wednesday, November 8, 2023
  • Letter of Interest (LOI) Deadline: 5 p.m. on Friday, December 8, 2023
  • Grant Application Deadline: 5 p.m. on Friday, December 15, 2023
  • Decision Notification Timeline: End of February 2024

About the Grant

Overview
The Parks & Public Space Initiative supports the beautification, development and activation of neighborhood/community parks, school parks, trails and other public lands. This initiative grew out of the Margaret Annis Boys Trust, which was established through a gift from Miss Boys’ estate in 1991 to support and encourage landscaping and beautification projects in parks, medians and other public lands in Oklahoma City. Grant awards will vary depending on the size and complexity of the project. In addition to funding, Oklahoma City Community Foundation staff will provide project expertise.
Goals & Objectives
  1. To increase utilization of neighborhood parks, neighborhood school parks, trails and other spaces open to the public for recreation, cultural and health improvement.
  2. To engage community groups, neighborhoods, corporations, municipalities and other nonprofit organizations in improving our neighborhood parks, school parks and trails and the programs that are in them.
  3. To increase community stewardship of parks, school parks, trails and public spaces.
Who Is Eligible to Apply?
  • Neighborhood/community groups connected to parks, school parks, trails and other public spaces in Oklahoma County.
  • Any 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing direct services and that has a governing board based in Oklahoma County.
  • Local government agencies or state and city-connected agencies.
Grant Funding Goals
  • Encourage landscaping and beautification projects in public community spaces including: neighborhood/community parks, school parks, trails, public medians and other public lands in central Oklahoma.
  • Increase utilization of public spaces which are open and accessible to citizens for recreation, cultural and health improvement.
  • Support programming consistent with the priorities identified in the 2020 Oklahoma City Parks Master Plan.
  • Engage community groups, neighborhoods, businesses and other nonprofit organizations to improve our public community spaces.
  • Increase community awareness, involvement and stewardship of our public community spaces.
Application Process
  • Submit a Letter of Intent by December 8, 2023, via an online process to ensure your project is within the scope of the Parks Initiative Grant criteria.
  • After the LOI is submitted and approved, the applicant will be invited to apply.
Grant Project Narrative, Budget, Evaluation & Reporting

The grant application includes specific questions including:

  • Description of the project for which funding support is requested; is this project new or an expansion of an existing project/program?
  • Statement for the need for the project
    Description and number of participants of who will utilize the space
  • Timeline for implementation

An accurate and detailed budget must be submitted including an itemized list of all the components for the project. If the project is multi-phased, the submission must identify which item is included in each phase. Please indicate how you plan to sustain the project beyond the initial grant funding.

The proposal must include a match amount from the applicant. Future landscape maintenance expenses for the project are not considered for the match. Match amounts vary depending on the grant request and the complexity of the project.
A project/program evaluation or outcome measurement plan will be required. Applicants will need to demonstrate an evaluation component that reviews the success of the projects/programs and ensures continued maintenance and sustainability. Evidence of activation will be required.

Grantees will be required to submit evaluation reports via an online process for one (1) year after the award has been made or until the funded program/project is completed.

Funds provided by the Oklahoma City Community Foundation in support of identified parks projects or programs will be held in escrow and will be distributed as expenses are incurred.

Priorities and Requirements for Considering Funding
  • Existing neighborhood/community parks, school parks, trails, public medians and other open and accessible public properties will be the primary focus area for implementation of approved projects.
  • The majority of Parks and Public Space Initiative grants are infrastructure and support activities or programs.
  • Projects must be completed within a year after funding notification. All proposed projects must be open and accessible to the public during reasonable usage hours.
  • All proposed projects must be located within the Greater Oklahoma City area.
    The proposed project must provide documentation of approval by the government entity directly responsible for the management and oversight of the project.
  • Neighborhood streetscapes are a low priority for grant funding.
  • A comprehensive site plan of the proposed project must be included with the grant application. The application must include current and future phases of the project if multi-phased. It can be professionally prepared or presented as a graphic over a Google Earth image.
  • A significant volunteer component is required for each grant proposal. The volunteer group must share an active role in the planning, implementation and ongoing maintenance of the project.
  • A realistic location, installation and maintenance plan with identified responsibilities and budget must be submitted to ensure the project’s sustainability. Tree plantings typically require a three-year maintenance plan to ensure establishment.
  • Proposed grant requests supporting bond issue and other publicly funded projects will be considered on a case-by-case basis. There must be strong evidence that the project is ready to move forward immediately and that the Parks Initiative grant portion will play a significant role in the overall success and impact of the project.

NOTE: All physical improvement plans are subject to city regulations and all applicable permits. In some cases approved projects may require more public involvement, possibly including: Oklahoma City Council support, Planning Department approval, Parks Commission approval, school board approval, etc. If a project is accepted, the goal of the City Community Foundation is to help with this process. However, the responsibility for this process lies with the funded organization. All awards are contingent upon approval by appropriate government entities.

Grant Deadline & Notification

Please see above for the application deadline to submit all grant application materials. The grant application will be reviewed by a committee and funding recommendations forwarded to the board of Trustees.

Reporting

Grantees will be required to submit evaluation reports via an online process for one (1) year after the award has been made or until the funded program/project is completed.

Questions & Clarifications

Please submit any questions or a need for clarification on any aspect of the application requirements to [email protected] and note in the subject line “Parks Initiative Grant Application.” Replies will be provided in a timely manner during the workweek. Questions will not be answered after the deadline.

Recent Grants

Asian District Cultural Association – $3,000 – To plant 12 new trees and improve the health of existing trees in Military Park.

Camp Fire Heart of Oklahoma – $8,500 – To establish a native wildflower and pollinator garden.

City of Del City – $6,000 – For Oklahoma native landscaping at their Welcome to Del City entrance signs.

City of Yukon – $15,000 – To support the Yukon Trails & Parks Tree Canopy Project, which is creating a more inviting and user-friendly trail system and helping to improve air quality for the community. 

Edgemere Park Preservation, Inc. – $8,000 – To install two shade structures in Edgemere Park to help activate the park year-round. 

First Serve OKC Foundation – $4,000 – To install a new shade structure next to the tennis courts at Pitts Park in Northeast OKC.

Friends of Will Rogers Gardens Foundation – $8,000 – To complete the final two shade structures in their Memory Garden.

Historical Preservation, Inc. – $6,000 – To replace dead and dying trees in Harn Park and on medians in the Heritage Hills neighborhood.

Lakehurst Homeowners Association – $10,000 – To remove storm-damaged trees and bushes along the neighborhood’s right-of-way.

Lillian Timber Farms – $9,000 – To plant six new fruit trees as a shade and healthy food source in the neighborhood’s community garden.

Love Grow Live Center, Inc. – $8,500 – To purchase planting materials to support their revitalization efforts at Diggs Park.

Miller Neighborhood Association – $5,200 – To plant new trees along the neighborhood’s medians along Northwest 12th and Miller.

Myriad Gardens Foundation – $15,000 – To support their efforts to enlarge and revitalize their mixed border beds along Sheridan Ave.

NewView Oklahoma Inc. – $19,000 – To help develop the NewView Walking Path, Garden & Wellness Space for people with low vision.

Olde Capitol Hill Council, Inc. – $20,000 – To purchase indigenous plants and materials to update the community’s flowerbeds. 

Portland Avenue Baptist Church – $9,350 – To replace 22 storm-damaged trees in public spaces around their campus.

Putnam Heights Preservation Area – $10,500 – To improve landscaping and irrigation to help create a traffic-calming effect in a highly trafficked intersection. 

Scissortail Park Foundation – $25,000 – To install perennial wildflowers and native grasses on the park’s Mexican feather grass hill.

Thompson Woodland Burr Oaks Neighborhood – $13,000 – For new plant materials to enhance Woodland Park’s landscaping.

 

How Can We Help You?

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Lanc Gross


Parks Program Manager

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Shree Ledford


Gifts & Programs Activity Manager