This document discusses creative ways for parks and recreation facilities to fund necessary capital projects. It outlines the costs associated with building baseball and softball fields as examples. Total costs for a baseball field are estimated at $416,206 while a softball field costs $296,524.80. Financing options through bonding are presented, with 20-year repayment examples provided. Potential funding sources discussed include existing capital funds, revenue bonds, hospitality taxes, user fees, and grants. Care is advised in economic impact projections and relying on scare tactics when seeking funding.

1. Creative Ways to Find Money
for the Facilities That You
Desperately Need
New Jersey Recreation and Park Association
November, 2012
Tom O’Rourke, Executive Director
Charleston County Park and Recreation
Commission
torourke@ccprc.com
www.ccprc.com/orourke

2. 3 Issues
1. What does it take to build first class
facilities?
2. How much does it cost?
3. Where do you find the money to pay for it?

7. You can do it like this …

8. ... or you can do it like this.

9. First, Educate Yourself
 Be aware of the LIMITING factors.
 Take into consideration multi-use.

10. Now that you are Educated,
Who Do You Hire?
• Know what are the main issues with your project.
• Know the difference between the professionals;
 Architect
 Landscape Architect
 Civil Engineer
 Electrical Engineer
 Soil Consultant
 Landscape Contractor

11. How much does it cost to build
this field?

12. Factors Affecting Costs
 Topographic and Soil Conditions
 Vegetative Cover – (Not just clearing!)
 Fill Materials
 Irrigation Source and local regulations

13. A professional project
will have
 Clearing
 Grading
 Lighting
 Grass
 Underdrain
 Fencing
 Bleachers
 Design Fees
 Parking
 Restrooms
 Press box
 Land Costs

14. Back to the Original Question
How much does it cost to build
this field?

15. One Full Size Baseball Field
Minimum 300’ to Fence
• Baseball Field
• Electrical General 1,000
• Lighting 160,000
• Underdrain/Drainage 16,000
• Clay 6,000
• Fencing/Dugouts/Backstop 21,000
• Foul Poles 4,500
• Furnishings 5,000
• Irrigation 22,000
• Sod 44,000
• Rough Grade 38,000
• Fine Grade 18,000
• Clearing/Grubbing 14,000
• Total - $349,500
Soft Costs – 8% = $27,960
Contingency – 10% = $37,746
TOTAL FOR PROJECT
$416,206

16. One Full Size Softball Field
190’ - 225’ to Fence
• Softball Field
• Electrical General 1,000
• Lighting 140,000
• Underdrain/Drainage 13,000
• Clay 4,000
• Fencing/Dugouts/Backstop 18,500
• Foul Poles 4,500
• Furnishings 4,000
• Irrigation 15,000
• Sod 18,000
• Rough Grade 17,000
• Fine Grade 7,6,00
• Clearing/Grubbing 7,000
• Total – 249,600,500
Soft Costs – 8% = $19,968
Contingency – 10% = $26,956.80
TOTAL FOR PROJECT
$296,524.80

17. How Do You Pay For It?
You first need to know
EXACTLY how much you
need
You need $ 416,206…Right?

18. Instead of $ 416,206
• Assuming a 5% interest rate
• Assuming paying back over 20 years
• $ 2,937 / Month
• $ 35,244 / Year

19. If you need $1,000,000
• Assuming a 5% interest rate
• Assuming paying back over 20 years
• $ 7,048 / Month
• $ 84,576 / Year

20. Bond Costs
• 1 million - $84,500 / year
• 5 million - $422,500/year
• 10 million - $845,000/year
• 20 million - $1,690,000/year

21. Sports as an Economic
Development Driver
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gk6Oy9Ybp8
&feature=related

22. Where Do You Get the
Money?

23. Real Sources
• Existing Capital Funds
• Revenue Bond
• Hospitality Taxes – Accommodations Taxes
• User Fees / Lease Agreements

24. Your Own Capital Budget
• Morris County. $ 317,000,000 / Year
• Chatham Borough $307,200.

25. Be Careful of
• Scare tactics
• Inflated economic impact numbers
o Hotel Nights
o Visitor Spending
o Operational Spending
• Tourism Impact Figures
• Direct impact of the figures
• Grants

26. GRANTS
• Baseball Tomorrow Fund
• Diamondbacks Foundation
• NFL Grassroots
• Tony Hawk Foundation
• U.S. Soccer Foundation
Foundations in General!

27. Thank You
torourke@ccprc.com