The Statewide Park Program is a competitive grant program created under the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006 (Proposition 84), and Assembly Bill 31 (De Leon) Chapter 623, Statutes of 2008. The program is administered by the California State Parks, Office of Grants and Local Services, utilizing the Department’s extensive experience and 40-year history of administering and managing grant programs. The development of program guidelines include a public involvement process whereby the Department solicited written comments and held public hearings at convenient locations throughout the state as part of the process for developing the procedural guide. Technical assistance workshops were held throughout the state. In total, the Department held thirty statewide public meetings. Projects will be selected using a highly respected competitive review process. Selected projects will be administered using a grant administration system that ensures frequent reporting and communication with grant recipients, routine monitoring and auditing of project progress, and timely project completion. Information and updates including program guidelines are posted on the California State Parks website.
Grantees selected for funding under the Statewide Park Program are required to spend grant funds according to the approved project scope and budget. Grantees certify under penalty of perjury that the information in their payment requests and accompanying documents is true. DPR withholds no less than twenty percent of each payment request to be released upon project completion. DPR also requires semi-annual progress reports for all projects, and conducts annual agency reviews with each grantee. Grant recipients that are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations must maintain a fidelity bond to receive grant funds.
All projects funded via the Statewide Park Program receive a close-out site inspection conducted by the Department at the time the project is complete and prior to releasing final payment of grant funds. The purpose of the close-out site inspection is to ensure all project components were completed according to program guidelines and the terms of the grant agreement, including project scope and budget. To request final payment, grantees submit documents listing costs incurred using the grant funds and also identify all additional funding sources used to complete the project. Grantees must comply with all current laws and regulations which apply to the project. Grantees must record a notice on the title of the project property, stating that the property use has restrictions due to the grant agreement with the Department.
