Six Central Florida Counties will receive $5.5 million in competitive grants from the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program (FRDAP) for the 2006-2007 year.  The grants will be used for the acquisition or development of land for public outdoor recreation use or to construct or renovate recreational trails. Statewide, the program provided over $30,000,000 in grants to cities and counties.

 “Without the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program, the city would not be able to provide a high level of recreation opportunities to our citizens,” stated Eve Owens, Grants Coordinator for the City of Palm Bay in Brevard County. Southeast Park, Ph. II and McGriff Park, both in the City of Palm Bay, were each granted $200,000 from the FRDAP.

As we’ve learned from the myregion.org Values Study, preserving open space and recreational areas is a key issue that resonates with citizens across the region. The grants provided by the FRDAP will aid Central Florida by allowing communities within the region to create and maintain recreational areas for its citizens.

The Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program is managed by Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection according to Florida Statute and Administrative Code. Its competitive assistance program was designed to help municipal and county governments or other legally constituted entities with a maximum annual grant amount of $200,000 for public parks and recreational purposes.

A complete listing for each county showing the funding received from the FRDAP follows:

Brevard County
Brevard County, Chain of Lakes Complex, $200,000
Brevard County, Mitchell Ellington Park, $200,000
City of Cape Canaveral, City Park, $112,500
City of Melbourne, Lipscomb Park, Ph. I, $200,000
City of Melbourne, Lipscomb Park, Ph. II, $200,000
City of Palm Bay, McGriff Park, $200,000
City of Palm Bay, Southeast Park, Ph. II, $200,000

Lake County
Lake County, Northeast Community Park, $200,000

Orange County
City of Belle Isle, Delia Beach Park, $112,500
City of Belle Isle, Montmart Park, $112,500
City of Winter Park, Howell Branch Preserve, $200,000
City of Winter Park, Mead Garden Trails, $200,000
City of Winter Garden, Sam Williams Senior League Baseball Lights, $50,000
Orange County, Azalea Park, $200,000
Town of Eatonville, Denton Johnson Center, $50,000
Town of Eatonville, Municipal Pool Complex, $50,000

Polk County
City of Lake Alfred, Mackay Gardens & Lakeside Preserve, $112,500
City of Lakeland, Freedom Park, $200,000
City of Lakeland, Jackson Park, $200,000
City of Mulberry, Spense Filed Park, $50,000
City of Winter Haven, Charles Richardson Park, $200,000
City of Winter Haven, Lake Hartridge Park, $200,000
Polk County, Circle B Bar Reserve, Ph. II, $200,000

Seminole County
City of Casselberry, Lake Concord/Anniversary Park Development, $200,000
City of Casselberry, Secret Lake Park, $200,000
City of Lake Mary, Lake Mary Park, $200,000
City of Sanford, Fort Mellon Park, Ph. II, $200,000
City of Winter Springs, Trotwood Park, $200,000
Seminole County, Black Hammock Boardwalk, $200,000

Volusia County
City of Edgewater, Kennedy Park, $200,000
City of Holly Hill, Sunrise Park Dredging, $200,000
City of Ormond Beach, Central Park I – Basketball Court, $50,000
Volusia County, Plymouth Avenue Park, $200,000

Without the support and funding provided by the FRDAP, the Central Florida area would be significantly lacking recreational facilities and options for its citizens. Once again, since the myregion.org Values Study has highlighted preserving space and recreational areas as a key issue in our communities, the FRDAP is commended for contributing to the progressive success of our region’s future.