To be eligible for the matching funds, interested neighborhood groups must request in writing that the Park Department initiate a playground project in their neighborhood park by filling out the Playground Matching Fund Application. Park staff will give priority to proposed projects located in parks where no matching playground projects have been previously initiated. The neighborhood group must designate a "contact person," who can represent the neighborhood with regard to the project. The "contact person" for the Park Department for all capital projects is Larry Hoetmer, Park Department Landscape Architect.

Project costs for playground area development in a neighborhood park must be provided in equal portion by the neighborhood and the City. Neighborhood funds can be acquired through individual contributions, donations from companies and by in-kind volunteer contributions.

Cash contributions may be sent directly to the Department of Park and Recreation, for deposit into a "trust account" restricted for that particular playground project.

In-kind contributions are considered to be the number of hours citizen volunteers accrued while working on the project or other work-related project located within the designated park, either independently or with the assistance of Park Department staff. These hours must be documented on a Volunteer Hours Form and attested by the designated neighborhood coordinator for the project. Completed forms are to be forwarded to the Park offices at City Hall, to the attention of Larry Hoetmer, in order for the dollar value of these services to be tracked to assist with the match. The in-kind value of volunteer hours is computed using the rate of $5.00 per documented volunteer hour. (This rate represents an average salary for the Park Department part-time/seasonal staff.)

Land donation values will not be eligible as matching funding for neighborhood playground projects.

The maximum matching amount allowable per individual playground project in the Park Department’s CIP is $15,000. In other words, Park’s CIP will match the funds contributed by a neighborhood organization up to the maximum per project.

Should any of the CIP funds allocated for playground equipment under the "matching funding" program be unused by September 1 of the current year, those funds may be used by the Park Department for other Park improvements and needs.

The scope of the proposed project, including development time frame and funding needs, will be decided by Park staff following an initial meeting between the Park Department representative for the project and the neighborhood organization.

Once the scope of the project has been agreed upon by all parties, the neighborhood organization has eighteen (18) months to raise their portion of funding required to complete the project (includes cash and in-kind contributions.)

Volunteer hours that are accumulated in excess of the value of the scope of one particular project cannot be transferred to any other project.

The Park Department will determine the final selection of playground equipment under the following criteria:

Park Department staff will work with representatives from the neighborhood to reach a consensus on the general type of playground equipment for the park site in question.

Specific equipment selections and scope of the project will be made with the approval of a Park staff member who is certified to inspect playground equipment for safety.

For reasons of safety and because of equipment warranty restrictions, used playground equipment will not be acceptable for use in a "matching funding" playground project.

The Park Department is responsible for deciding where playground equipment will be placed, how it is to be installed and for the playground area design. However, preliminary plans will be reviewed with neighborhood representatives for their input before final decisions are made.

Park Department personnel will be responsible for the installation of playground equipment to ensure that safety standards and vendor requirements are met. At the discretion of Park personnel, citizen volunteers may be allowed to assist with development of the surrounding playground area.

Installation of equipment will be performed by either Park Department staff, a Park Department-contracted installer, or other licensed contractor.

The Park Department will be responsible for ongoing maintenance of the playground equipment.

Project scheduling will be determined by the Park Department. Typically, park playground projects will be scheduled in order of the requests.

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