Bozeman advisory board adopts Parkland Trust Community Grant Program to distribute about $220,000

Lede The Urban Parks and Forestry Advisory Board on March 27 voted to adopt a formal Parkland Trust Community Grant Program to distribute about $220,000 in cash-in-lieu parkland funds, with the board approving the proposal unanimously in a recorded vote of 4-0.

Nut graf The program, presented by Park Planning and Development Manager Addie, consolidates prior scoring categories, clarifies procedures for applicants and staff, and aims to align grant awards with themes in the city’s recently adopted PRAT plan. The board approved moving the program forward with changes discussed at the meeting; staff said the first application period would launch in spring and that grant awards would be reviewed by the board in June with funding recommendations expected in July.

Body Addie, identified in the meeting as the Park Planning and Development Manager, told the board the draft formalizes an on‑going but informal practice of allocating cash-in-lieu of parkland. “We have about $220,000 to disperse,” Addie said, and described plans to run a defined application period, simplify the application form and reduce criteria from eight to six so applicants do not repeat information.

The program will require staff to score the first two criteria (feasibility…