Agency: Natural Resources

Line Item: Parks and Recreation Capital

Function

This line item separates appropriations and expenditures for park capital facilities from operating budgets.

Performance

Funding Spent on Boating Access: The division leadership feels that with limited boating areas in the Utah, it is imperative to maximize the use of all available areas for boating and fishing access. This measure provides information on the amount of money spent by the division of Parks and Recreation on increasing boating and fishing access.

Funding Spent on OHV Facilities and Trails: The objective of this measure is to increase the availability of OHV facilities and recreational trails. The figure below provides the money spent on OHV facilities and recreational opportunities.

Funding Spent on Critical Maintenance: The division uses the amount of money spent on critical maintenance to measure how well the critical needs are being met.

Related Material

Issue Brief - 2014 General Session - Parks Capital Trends

Issue Brief - 2014 General Session - Parks Capital Trends

Funding Detail

Two types of expenditures are made through the Parks Capital budget:

• Capital improvements to parks. Only small maintenance and renovation projects costing less than $100,000 are carried out through this budget. Larger projects compete with other capital needs statewide for DFCM Capital Improvement funds.
• Funds passed through or matching grants to other agencies for capital development.

Each funding source typically has specific restrictions on types of projects for which the money can be used. For example, boating money can only be used for construction directly related to boating and fishing in the area. Some projects, however, also qualify for and are funded from more than one funding source. The Legislature has granted nonlapsing authority to Parks' Capital Budget, allowing the division to carry forward unused balances from one year to another.

A summary for each of the major funding sources for the division's capital needs, along with the general criteria of how the funding can be used is listed below.

State Funds

Direct Legislative Appropriation of State General Funds

The Legislature periodically appropriates one-time General Funds for the State Parks' capital needs.

According to division administration, the criteria used for deciding which projects to be funded from this source are as follows:

• The project can be directly utilized by the public and it directly meets a recreation-related need;
• The project would provide added value to a park (increased revenue, reduced expenditures, etc.);
• The project would increase visitation; and
• The project would receive matching funds through public or private partnerships.

DFCM Capital Improvement Funds

The Division of Facilities Construction and Management (DFCM) allocates to State Parks approximately $500,000 annually from the General Fund for capital maintenance and improvements. The primary purpose of these funds is to ensure:

• Human health and safety;
• Continued operations; and
• Replacement of facilities/infrastructure beyond their useful life.

In the past, $1 million of DFCM improvement funds were used to leverage a match of $1 million from the Bureau of Reclamation for renovation projects at a specific state park.

DFCM Capital Development Funds

This fund is available to all state agencies to apply for potential development of new projects exceeding $500,000 and renovation of existing facilities with cost over $2 million. However, competition for these funds is very keen and Parks' historical funding cycle for receipt of these funds is more than five years. The criteria for these funds are as follows:

• The project eliminates life, safety, or other risks;
• The project addresses essential program growth and capacity requirements;
• The project is cost effective; and
• The project improves program effectiveness and provides facilities necessary to support critical programs and initiatives.

Federal Funds

Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) Funds

The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) makes funding available on a 50/50 matching basis for the capital needs of State Parks on BOR properties. The 50% match is provided from the General Fund through the DFCM Capital Improvement program.

Federal Motorboat Access (MBA) Funds

Funding from the Federal Motorboat Access Fund is restricted to potential projects that are directly related to motorized boating recreation, such as ramp extensions, courtesy docks, restrooms adjacent to boat ramps or docks, dredging for access, etc. Also, all projects must be available to the general public.

Restricted Funds

State Boating Restricted Funds

Boating Account revenues come from boat registration fees as well as from gasoline tax. Like the Motor Boat Access funds, potential projects must be directly related to boating recreation and be available to the general public.

State Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Restricted Funds

The state Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Account is generated from off-highway vehicle registration fees and gasoline tax. OHV account proceeds are generally limited in scope and are usually solicited to leverage federal matching funds (such as Land and Water Conservation Fund) for projects that have an OHV recreational component. Examples include trailhead development, campground facilities for OHV users, restrooms near trails, and motocross tracks. These funds are generally limited in amount and are available on an "ad-hoc" basis.

Program: Renovation and Development

Function

The Renovation and Development program provides the capital funding for facility development and for renovation of park infrastructure. Only small renovation projects of less than $100,000 are included here. These are projects that are too small for recognition in DFCM priorities and are of an emergency nature.

This program also provides for the acquisition and new development of property where funds can be matched with federal or other sources. There are often opportunities to accept these other funds when matching funds are available. These are usually smaller development projects or small parcels of land for boundary corrections and small in-holdings within larger parks.

Funding Detail

Program: Major Renovation

Function

The Major Renovation program was created to fund the major renovations in the state parks.

Funding Detail

Program: Trails Program

Function

The Trails Program is primarily a federal pass-through grant program which helps meet the increasing demands for linear parks and trail development by providing matching funds to local communities. The funding is used for the acquisition and development of recreational trails and trail crossings, without obligating the State government to operate or maintain these facilities. The Recreational Trails Advisory Council makes recommendations to the board and the division regarding the program.

The National Recreational Trails portion of this program is funded through the Federal Highway Administration. The money is to be used for creation of non-motorized trails. The division acts as an intermediary by passing the funds through to qualifying public entities.

Funding Detail

Program: Donated Capital Projects

Function

The Donated Capital Projects program accounts for donations to the division for specific parks and projects within those parks. Visitors and special interest groups contribute toward special projects that otherwise may not receive funding.

Funding Detail

Program: Region Renovation

Function

The Region Renovation program provides funding for park specific projects, such as construction of an amphitheatre or replacement of docks or mooring buoys.

Funding Detail

Program: Land Acquisition

Function

The Land Acquisition program provides the capital funding for land acquisition. Funding comes from the collection of land lease and sale revenue.

Funding Detail

Program: Land and Water Conservation

Function

The Land and Water Conservation Fund Act was established by Congress in 1965. It created a federal reimbursement grant program for the acquisition and/or development of public outdoor recreation areas. Federal oversight of the program is provided by the National Park Service; however, the program is administered locally by the State of Utah, through the Division of State Parks and Recreation. Any site/facility that is purchased, developed, or improved with funding from this grant is protected in perpetuity as a public outdoor recreation area.

Since its inception, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) program has funded more than 400 projects in Utah totaling more than $47 million in assistance. The LWCF is a 50-50 matching reimbursement program. The grant recipient must be able to fund 100 percent of the project, while seeking periodic reimbursements for eligible expenses from the program.

Funding Detail

Program: Boat Access Grants

Function

This program provides state capital matching funds for federal Wallop-Breaux dollars used in the development of boating access sites throughout the state. With limited boating areas in the state, this program seeks to maximize the use of all available areas for boating and fishing access. This program also provides funding for the implementation of the Clean Vessel Act.

Funding Detail

Program: Off-highway Vehicle Grants

Function

The Off-highway Vehicle Grants Program provides for matching grants with federal agencies and local governments in the acquisition of land and development of Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV) riding areas (see UCA 41-22-19). Although Utah has a vast amount of public land, there are few areas, especially on the Wasatch Front, where people can ride their OHVs in a legal, managed area. This program helps to provide access to areas where this popular form of recreation can be done and can be managed (click on the link http://stateparks.utah.gov/ohv to go to the website).

Funding Detail