62D-5.056. Application Requirements and Processing

The Department shall approve applications for program grants in order of priority until all program funds are depleted under the following standards and criteria:

(1) ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS. All local governmental entities with the legal responsibility for the provision of outdoor recreational sites and facilities for the use and benefit of the public may submit FRDAP applications during the application submission period.

(2) PROJECT ELIGIBILITY.

(a) Outdoor Recreation: FRDAP grants shall only be awarded to grantees for projects that are for the sole purpose of providing outdoor recreational opportunities to the public.

(b) Eligible Site: The site of a FRDAP development project shall be owned by the applicant, or shall be under lease to the applicant for a period of time sufficient to satisfy the dedication period required by this rule, by the submission period deadline. The Department shall make exceptions when the applicant demonstrates that: 1) it is in the public interest; 2) it complies with all other parts of the rule; and 3) it serves the legislative intent of Section 375.075, F.S. Other forms of real property interest will be considered if the applicant provides clear and explicit documentation showing that it has the sole ability to control, manage, and dedicate the park for the required period of time; and that such interest cannot be unilaterally or arbitrarily canceled by the grantor of the interest. Site control verification must be received by the close of the submission cycle, as required by form FPS-A033, described in subsection (6) of this rule. Eligible sites shall not include school board property. Eligible sites shall be dedicated or managed for public recreational use pursuant to Rule 62D-5.059, F.A.C.

(c) Number of Applications: An applicant may submit no more than two applications during each application submission period, with the exception of a consolidated city-county government which may submit four applications.

(d) Active Projects: A grantee with two incomplete FRDAP projects by the closing date of an application submission period shall only be eligible to submit one additional application.

(e) Duplicate Projects: A grantee shall not apply for FRDAP funds to complete an approved or incomplete FRDAP, LWCF, or RTP project. An applicant shall not submit the same application, in whole or in part, for more than one of the following: Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program, Land and Water Conservation Fund, or Recreational Trails Program, in concurrent or overlapping funding cycles.

(3) ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION. Following closure of an application submission period, Department staff will review and determine the eligibility of each applicant based on the following:

(a) Applications received by the application submission deadline will be reviewed and evaluated by Department staff based on the materials submitted. Applicants will be notified of the timely receipt and status of their application(s).

(b) No additional information shall be accepted after the application submission deadline, unless specifically requested by Department staff for clarification of information provided in the application received by the published application submission deadline.

(c) Ineligibility: An application, in whole or in part, may be declared ineligible by the Department pursuant to paragraphs 62D-5.056(2)(a)-(e), F.A.C. The Department may determine that a project site or facility is not viable or practical. A project site would not be considered practical if it has documented and unresolved environmental violations on the site. A project site or facility would not be considered viable if it does not receive a minimum number of 53 points as awarded under Rule 62D-5.057, F.A.C.

(4) APPLICATION EVALUATION. Each eligible application shall be evaluated on the basis of the information provided in the application and in accordance with this part. Each application shall be assigned a total point score pursuant to subsection 62D-5.055(7) and Rule 62D-5.057, F.A.C.

(5) UNFUNDED AND INELIGIBLE APPLICATIONS. Any unfunded or ineligible application may be returned to the applicant upon request. If no request is made within 30 days after notification of grant awards, unfunded applications shall be discarded by staff.

(6) APPLICATION FORM. The Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program Application Form, FPS-A033, effective date 08/13/98, is hereby incorporated by reference and is available from the Department’s Division of Recreation and Parks, 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, Mail Station 585 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000, [phone].

Specific Authority 375.075 FS. Law Implemented 375.075 FS. History–New 12-10-90, Formerly 16D-5.056, Amended 8-13-98, 8-23-00, 7-5-01, 8-15-04.