Presented to Connecticut Recreation and Parks Association, November, 2013

1. Creative Ways to Find Money for the Facilities
That You Desperately Need.
Connecticut Recreation and Parks Association
November, 2013
Tom O’Rourke, Executive Director
Charleston County Park and Recreation
Commission
www.ccprc.com/orourke

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

3. What kind of project will this be?

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

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

6. 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

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

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

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

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

12. 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

13. 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

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

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

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

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

18. Where Do You Get the
Money?

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

20. Your Own Capital Budget
• Norwalk CT. $ 19,684,000 / Year
• City of Watterbury. $ 17.1 Million / Year
• South Windsor $ 280,000/ Year

21. Other Sources of Capital Revenue
• Outside Sports groups, using your fields, are raising a lot of
money.
• Hotel – Motel Taxes – Getting an Advance?
• Don’t own – Lease
• Grants – (Maybe)
• Rich People
• Foundation Formulation – 501 c 3

22. Summary
• Understand true costs to construct.
• Understand your communities capital budget
• Have your program do more than the direct
impacts to open yourself up to philanthropic dollars
and donations.
• Get in the FOUNDATION game.

23. Thank You
www.ccprc.com/orourke