The recipient entity's physical address:
           6767 Perkins Rd
Baton Rouge, LA 70808

The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           Louisiana Recreation and Park Association (LRPA)
ATTN: Susanne Diez
6767 Perkins Rd
Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Association

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  8004

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $800,000

What type of request is this?  General Appropriation

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           BARNEY ARCENEAUX - Registered Agent
6767 PERKINS ROAD
BATON ROUGE, LA 70808

Officers: LATISHA SMITH, President; KATRINA COOTS, Vice President; RANDY ALBAREZ, Treasurer; ROBERTJOHNSON, Secretary; SUSANNE DIEZ, Director
6767 PERKINS ROAD
BATON ROUGE, LA 70808

Provide a summary of the project or program:
           Program Title: Park Partners – Community-Led Revitalization of Louisiana’s Local Community Parks

Public Purpose: Establish a statewide grant program that promotes private stewardship of parks by private citizens and businesses to build a culture of park philanthropy across Louisiana to build long-term sustainability.

Summary of Request/Use of Funds:
LRPA will create and administer Park Partners, a 5-year competitive grant program providing awards to a minimum of seven (7) Louisiana municipalities and park and recreation agencies (LRPA members) in 2025 to partner with local citizens and businesses to transform public land into more utilized community parks. The program is designed to build a culture of private stewardship of public land throughout Louisiana by requiring local volunteer leadership and encouraging private giving alongside public investment.

Match & Community Stewardship Requirements:
• Minimum 10% match (cash and/or in-kind), with preference for all of the match from private sources (foundations, businesses, civic groups, individual donors).
• Each application must include a Park Partnership Team of 3 or more dedicated residents who will: (1) complete LRPA’s park stewardship orientation and 2 technical guidance meetings with LRPA staff and board members, (2) assist the awarded municipality or agency with public input and design/programming choices, and (3) plan and host one or more volunteer events or programs to implement and launch the project.
Eligible Uses (examples): site preparation and/or revitalization; play, fitness, and/or shade amenities; trails and wayfinding; native landscaping/green infrastructure; lighting and safety features; ADA access; public art; start-up programming, gathering pavilion, community garden, and volunteer tools/supplies.

Administration & Accountability:
LRPA will run a statewide RFP within 90 days of appropriation; provide technical assistance; and award projects with attention to high community stewardship and benefit. All awards will be governed by a Grant Agreement between LRPA and the awarded entity, with quarterly progress reports (budget, milestones, volunteer hours, match raised) and a final report documenting outcomes, photos, and a 12-month stewardship/maintenance plan. The number of projects funded will depend on the total appropriation; all funds will be tracked and reported consistent with state requirements.

Expected Outcomes:
Increased volunteerism and a culture of private stewardship of public land; private donations; increased community social opportunities; improved access to recreation; and visibly beautified public spaces that are maintained through ongoing community stewardship.

5-Year Program with Support from the State:
Year 1 (2025): $800,000 for a minimum of 7 grants to parks departments with the assistance of private residents and businesses, and coaching by LRPA.
Year 2 (2026) :$500,000 to promote successes from year 1 and to award up to 4 more grants, using Lessons learned from year 1 for the most successful models for private stewardship.
Year 3 (2027): $500,000 to promote successes from years 1 & 2 and to award up to 4 more grants, using lessons learned from years 1 & 2 for the most successful models for private stewardship.
Year 4 (2028): $500,000 to promote successes from years 1 - 3 and to award up to 4 more grants, using lessons learned from years 1-3 for the most successful models for private stewardship.
Year 5 (2029): $200,000 to promote program successes and to assist local communities and parks departments with establishing private support structures for long-term sustainability.

What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Professional Services. . . $0
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $704,000
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $0
          Operating Services. . . . $96,000
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $0

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          Not Applicable

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          Louisiana Recreation & Park Association (LRPA) will launch Park Partners, a competitive grant program that will create a culture of volunteerism and stewardship of public land across the state.
The program advances clear public purposes: building long-term sustainability for local parks, improving community health and quality of life, strengthening social cohesion and civic engagement, enhancing neighborhood safety and aesthetics, and expanding access to outdoor recreation.

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          Goal 1 — Build a durable culture of community stewardship and volunteerism.

Objectives:
1. Require a Park Partnership Team of 3+ residents for every grant, completing LRPA’s stewardship orientation and committing to ongoing technical support (3 additional sessions with LRPA staff and/or board members).
2. Host meaningful and impactful public input, in partnership with Park Partners, relevant to each project.
3. Host =1 community volunteer event per project, tracking volunteer hours and in-kind assistance.
4. Secure a minimum 10% local match for each award, with preference that =75% of the match be private (cash or in-kind) where feasible.

Goal 2 — Revitalize space and/or create programming for under-resourced and/or underutilized public land for more utilized parks.

Objectives (within 12 months from appropriation; number of awards scales with appropriation):
1. Award competitive grants up to $100,000 to eligible municipalities/park agencies through an open RFP; target 6–10 projects per $800K in state funds (actual count depends on total appropriation and individual award sizes).
2. Complete awarded projects or programs at 100% of funded sites (e.g., play/fitness amenities, shade, trails, lighting, wayfinding, native landscaping/green infrastructure, ADA access).
3. Measure impacts for each unique project (will be part of criteria for awards)

Goal 3 — Advance park access and visible neighborhood benefits statewide.
Objectives:
1. Require each grantee to adopt a 12-month post-completion stewardship/maintenance plan, including at least 2 scheduled volunteer activities and a named local liaison.
2. Document before/after conditions and/or events or programming (photos, amenity inventory, accessibility additions, landscaping, garden planting, party at the pavilion, etc.) for 100% of sites.

Goal 4 — Ensure transparent administration, compliance, and performance.
Objectives:
1. Publish an RFP within 90 days of appropriation with clear eligibility, scoring criteria, timelines, and required match.
2. Execute Cooperative Endeavor Agreements (CEA) with state and Grant Agreements with awardees for 100% of awards before disbursement; require quarterly progress reports (financials, milestones, volunteer hours, match status) and a final report at closeout.
3. Conduct desk reviews for all projects and site visits for =100% of projects during the grant period.
4. Track program KPIs and provide a program-wide summary to the state within 60 days of final closeout (awards, geographic distribution, match leveraged, volunteer hours, amenities added, accessibility upgrades, and park-use change).

What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           5 Years to accomplish the full purpose, but 1 Year to meet the objectives stated above

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                 N/A
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                 N/A

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                 0

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                  N/A

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               N/A

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
               N/A

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
                N/A

          What is the nature of the relationship?  N/A

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                 N/A - grants will be awarded based on applications by municipalities and LRPA members. Those that best meetthe program objectives will be awarded and contracts will be created at that time.

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               Contracts will be signed with LRPA members to whom the grant funds will be awarded.


Contact Information
name:  Susanne Diez 
                                       address:  6767 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70808
                                       phone:  225-344-5001
                                       fax:  225-344-3054
                                       e-mail:  sdiez@lma.org
                                       relationship to entity:  Executive Director