Park and Recreational Facilities Construction Program
PARC provides grants for Illinois local governments to build, renovate, or expand public parks and recreation facilities, with a focus on indoor recreation and land acquisition for conservation.
Funder: Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Due Dates (Anticipated): June 2027: Full application submission deadline | June 2027: Question submission deadline | June 2027: Pre-qualification / AmpliFund submission cut-off
Funding Amounts: Up to $2.8M per project; $28M total pool (projected); 75%–90% of project costs covered; 2-year project period.
Summary: Supports Illinois local governments in constructing, renovating, or expanding public parks, recreation facilities, and land acquisition for recreation and conservation.
Key Information: Forecasted dates; 25% (or 10%) match required; application and award fees apply; only capital/bondable projects eligible.
Description
The Park and Recreational Facilities Construction Program (PARC) provides competitive capital grants to eligible Illinois local governments for the construction, renovation, or expansion of public park and recreation facilities, as well as land acquisition for public indoor and outdoor recreation, conservation, and park purposes. The program prioritizes projects focused on indoor recreation facilities, which are not eligible under other Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) grant programs. Grants cover a significant portion of project costs and are intended for bondable capital expenditures that offer long-term public benefit.
