2025 Recreation Grant Program and Applications
Important dates
MetRec’s 2025 recreation grant schedule, encompassing the recreation grant program and application preparation through MetRec’s awarding of recreation grants, is as follows:
- January 21 – MetRec Rec Committee meeting
- January 29 – Regular MetRec Board meeting to approve the Draft 2025 Recreation Grant Program and Budget
- February 5 – 2025 Recreation Grant Program and applications published online
- March 14 – Recreation Grant application deadline
- April 30 – Independent Grant Review Committee Meeting and Recommendation
- May 14 – MetRec Rec Committee meeting to formulate MetRec Board Recreation Grant Award Recommendations
- May 28 – Board awards Recreation Grants
Contact
MetRec encourages all prospective grant applicants to contact the Executive Director, Derrick Nehrenberg (719) 221-9125, about their grant application ideas before submission to ensure they are eligible and fit with the best funding purpose.
Recreation grant funding purpose
Our recreation grant program prioritizes projects that meet our community’s vital recreation needs. By fostering collaboration between public and non-profit sectors, we strive to develop innovative facilities, operations, and programs that address our citizens’ unique requirements and aspirations. Emphasis will be placed on maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure, supporting and elevating local recreation non-profit operations, catalyzing innovative recreation programs and projects, and our recent 2025 Regional Recreation Master Plan priorities.
Background
Colorado created parks and recreation special districts to promote its inhabitants’ health, wellness, and general welfare. Special districts are local governments governed by elected directors who are responsible for determining the vision and mission of a district and allocating funds generated through property taxes within the boundaries of a district.
The Gunnison County Metropolitan Recreation District (MetRec) encompasses most of Gunnison County and a small northwestern portion of Saguache County (map below). MetRec’s district is subdivided into a North Subdistrict, which coincides with the boundaries of the Crested Butte Fire Protection District, and a South Subdistrict, which includes everything outside the North Subdistrict and within the MetRec district. MetRec is unique because it enables our geographically associated groups of communities to pool their tax resources to create regional recreation solutions together.
In 2018, MetRec’s voters approved ballot issue 7D that repealed TABOR, returning the mill levy tax to 1 mill to fund qualifying expenditures district-wide. In 2022, MetRec voters within the North Subdistrict approved ballot issue 6B to increase their property tax mill levy by two mills for a total of 3 mills. The net two-mill levy tax increase collected in the North Subdistrict can only be spent on recreation purposes in the North Subdistrict and not TV translator services or administrative expenses.
To streamline MetRec’s funding opportunities, it has merged its grant programs into three funding purposes: capital construction, non-profit operation support, and community grants. These three recreation purposes are capital, operations, and community grants. They are designed to merge both the funding purposes of the 2022 North Subdistrict ballot issue and district-wide funding into a single streamlined application process.
MetRec stakeholders have consistently stated a need for multi-year grants to formulate and attain multi-year recreational goals. Hence, MetRec created multi-year operations and community grants in 2023, subject to annual appropriations.
Therefore, five types of grants are available this year.
- Capital
- Operations
- Community
- Multi-year operations
- Multi-year community
Please refer to the North Subdistrict Ballot Issue 6B language below for more information about qualifying grant expenditures.
MetRec encourages all applicants to discuss their intentions to apply for 2025 recreation grants with the executive director before submission to ensure their grant application idea is eligible and that it fits with the best funding purpose.
Grant and award process
MetRec desires to fund grant applications promoting vital recreation opportunities and excellence for our communities. The process is as follows:
- MetRec seeks to make the 2025 Recreation Grant Program more competitive.
- There will be one grant cycle for all recreation grants.
- An independent grant review committee will score and rank order applications within each of the five grant funding purposes.
- The independent grant reviewer scores will be submitted to the MetRec Recreation Committee.
- MetRec’s Recreation Committee will provide funding options to the MetRec board for discussion and approval. District-wide funds can be awarded to organizations within the North and South Subdistricts, and North Subdistrict funds can only be awarded to organizations located within the North Subdistrict.
- The MetRec board will award the recreation grants at its regular board meeting on May 28, 2025. The elected MetRec board is solely responsible for awarding recreation grant funds annually to ensure that the funds align with the grant reviewers’ scores, our residents’ recreation needs, and MetRec’s strategic aims.
- Note that all grant applications are subject to the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA). We recommend that applicants mark sensitive information as confidential and that MetRec redact grant applications in accordance with the CORA confidential information exception. If challenged, this does not guarantee exemption from public disclosure if required by law
2025 recreation budget
MetRec’s 2025 Recreation Grant Program is funded by two distinct tax revenue sources: a District-wide property tax and a North Subdistrict property tax. Organizations located in the South Subdistrict and North Subdistrict may be funded from the District-wide fund, whereas only organizations located in the North Subdistrict qualify for North Subdistrict funds.
For the North Subdistrict, MetRec is required to distribute the annual property tax funds as follows:
- Capital: 30-60% (spent annually or held in capital reserve)
- Operations: 30-60% (paid annually)
- Community: 10-40% (paid annually or held in capital reserve)
In 2025, for the North Subdistrict fund, the district has tentatively budgeted the grant award funds as follows:
- Capital: 58%
- Operations: 32%
- Community: 10%
2025 Recreation grant program budget
2025 recreation Grant applications
Description
MetRec’s capital grants are financial awards provided to municipalities, government agencies, or non-profit organizations to fund the planning, development, and improvement of recreational facilities or spaces. These grants can be used for various projects, including but not limited to planning and building new parks, playgrounds, sports fields, trailheads, trails, trail amenities, and indoor recreation facilities.
These grants aim to promote community health and wellness by providing accessible and enjoyable recreation opportunities for people of all ages and abilities.
Eligibility
- Municipalities, government agencies, and non-profits
- Based within MetRec’s district boundaries
- The product of the capital project must be available to the public
Program Goals
- Support the development of recreational facilities, amenities, spaces, trails, and trailheads that meet vital recreation needs.
- Focus recreation capital development near or between population centers
- Leverage funding outside Gunnison County
Project Budget & Match Requirements
A 75% match of the total capital project cost is required.
Funding Minimum and Maximum
$10,000 and 100,000
Capital Construction Grant Application link
Attachments:
- Detailed capital project budget
- Proof of non-profit status
- Letters of support from community partners
- Any additional supporting documentation
Complete the Google Form application and submit all applicable supporting documents as one PDF file to admin@gcmetrec.com. Incomplete grant applications will not be reviewed.
Deadline for submission: March 14, 2025
Description
MetRec’s operations grants are financial awards to support and elevate non-profit organizations’ operations, including but not limited to supporting recreation staff payroll, ongoing operations, equipment purchases, and maintenance of recreational facilities, amenities, trails, and spaces.
Eligibility
- Non-profits only
- Based within MetRec’s district boundaries
- The product of the operations must be available to the public
Program Goals
- Elevate vital operations of non-profit recreation organizations
- Leverage fee-based or donor revenue
- Leverage funding outside Gunnison County
- Supporting staff acquisition, development, and retention in the non-profit recreation sector
- Improving access to recreational opportunities for under-served communities
- Supporting the preservation and maintenance of public recreational facilities
- Enhancing the quality and safety of existing recreational facilities, amenities, trails, and spaces
Project Budget & Match Requirements
A 75% match of the total operations cost is required.
Funding Minimum and Maximum
$10,000 to $50,000
operations grant application link
Attachments:
1. Detailed annual operations budget. An operating budget consists of all revenues and expenses an organization uses to plan and execute its operations.
2. Proof of non-profit status
3. Letters of support from community partners
4. Any additional supporting documentation
Complete the Google Form application and submit all applicable supporting documents as one PDF file to admin@gcmetrec.com. Incomplete grant applications will not be reviewed.
Deadline for submission: March 14, 2025
Description
MetRec’s collaboration grants are financial awards to municipalities, government agencies, and non-profit organizations to support creative recreation initiatives, including but not limited to programs, services, amenities, and smaller-scale capital development and operations efforts.
Eligibility
- Municipalities, government agencies, and non-profits
- Based within MetRec’s district boundaries
- The product of the grant must be available to the public
Program Goals
- Catalyze the development of innovative recreation amenities, services, programs, or operations
- Focus on recreation services and projects near population centers
- Leverage funding outside Gunnison County
Project Budget & Match Requirements
A 50% match of the total community project cost is required.
Funding Maximum
- $10,000 maximum
Community Grant application link
Attachments:
1. Detailed community project budget
2. Proof of non-profit status
3. Letters of support from community partners
4. Any additional supporting documentation
Complete the Google Form application and submit all applicable supporting documents as one PDF file to admin@gcmetrec.com. Incomplete grant applications will not be reviewed.
Deadline for submission: March 14, 2025
Description
The grants are financial awards to non-profit organizations, including but not limited to ongoing operations and maintenance of recreational facilities, amenities, trails, and spaces.
Eligibility
- Meet with the Executive Director before applying
- Non-profits only
- Are based within MetRec’s district boundaries
- Have been previously funded by MetRec
- Will submit a three-year strategic plan
- Have been financially stable
- The organization’s operational products must be available to the public
Multi-year process
- In year one, applicants submit financial information, a three-year strategic planning document, and other application materials.
- In years two and three, applicants submits an abbreviated application. The MetRec committee recommends an up or down vote to the MetRec Board of Directors. The MetRec board votes on whether to continue awarding operations support at a regularly scheduled board meeting.
- Colorado law requires MetRec to vote on its budget and expenditures annually. Therefore, funding in future fiscal years is subject to annual appropriations and cannot be guaranteed.
Project Budget & Match Requirements
A 75% match of the total operations cost is required.
Funding Maximum
$10,000 minimum and $150,000 maximum per year
multi-year operations grant application link
multi-year operations year two and three request
Attachments
- Detailed annual operations budget. An operating budget consists of all revenues and expenses an organization uses to plan and execute its operations.
- Proof of non-profit status
- Letters of support from community partners
- Three-year organizational and operations strategic plan narrative
- Any additional supporting documentation
Complete the Google Form application and submit all applicable supporting documents as one PDF file to admin@gcmetrec.com. Incomplete grant applications will not be reviewed.
Deadline for submission: March 14, 2025
Description
These grants are financial awards to municipalities, government agencies, and non-profit organizations to support creative recreation initiatives, including but not limited to programs, services, amenities, and smaller-scale capital development and operations efforts.
Eligibility
- Meet with the Executive Director before applying
- Municipalities, government agencies, non-profits
- Are based within MetRec’s district boundaries
- Have been previously funded by MetRec
- Will submit a three-year strategic plan narrative
- Have been financially stable
- The organization’s community grant products must be available to the public.
Multi-year process
- In year one, applicants submit financial information, a three-year strategic planning document, and other application materials.
- In years two and three, applicants submits an abbreviated application. The MetRec committee recommends an up or down vote to the MetRec Board of Directors. The MetRec board votes on whether to continue awarding community grant support at a regularly scheduled board meeting.
- Colorado law requires MetRec to vote on its budget and expenditures annually. Therefore, funding in future fiscal years is subject to annual appropriations and cannot be guaranteed.
Project Budget & Match Requirements
A 50% match of the total community project is required.
Funding Maximum
$25,000 per year
multi-year community grant application link
multi-year community grant year two and three request
Attachments
- Detailed community project budget
- Proof of non-profit status (if applicable)
- Letters of support from community partners
- Three-year organizational and community strategic plan narrative
- Any additional supporting documentation
Complete the Google Form application and submit all applicable supporting documents as one PDF file to admin@gcmetrec.com. Incomplete grant applications will not be reviewed.
Deadline for submission: March 14, 2025
Grant Scoring Rubric
The grant scoring rubric for each grant program are presented in each grant application. Within each application there are five questions scored for up to twenty points each for a total of one-hundred points. The independent grant reviewers will score each grant based on the application scoring rubric.
Appendix
North subdistrict ballot language
Passed November 2022
SHALL THE NORTH SUBDISTRICT OF GUNNISON COUNTY METROPOLITAN RECREATION DISTRICT TAXES BE INCREASED BY AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $930,000.00 IN 2023 (THE FIRST FISCAL YEAR) AND BY WHATEVER AMOUNTS MAY BE GENERATED ANNUALLY THEREAFTER BY AN IMPOSITION OF AN ADDITIONAL MILL LEVY OF 2.0 MILLS FOR A NEW TOTAL MILL LEVY OF 3.0 MILLS UPON TAXABLE PROPERTY WITHIN THE NORTHERN SUBDISTRICT, OR SUCH LESSER AMOUNT AS THE BOARD OF THE GUNNISON COUNTY METROPOLITAN RECREATION DISTRICT MAY ANNUALLY DETERMINE COMMENCING WITH TAXES COLLECTED IN 2023 FOR TAXES DUE FOR 2022.
THE FUNDS SHALL BE USED WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE NORTH SUBDISTRICT FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES:
30-60% OF SUCH FUNDS SHALL BE ALLOCATED FOR THE PURPOSES OF CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION OF TRAILS, FIELDS, HOCKEY RINKS, CULTURAL CENTERS, RECREATION CENTERS, OR OTHER PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS, ACCESSIBLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THAT SUPPORT CULTURAL OR ACTIVE RECREATION (OTHER THAN TELEVISION) AND/OR THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY OR EASEMENTS THAT PERMANENTLY PROVIDE OR SUPPORT ACCESS TO SUCH RECREATION. SUCH FUNDS MAY BE SPENT ANNUALLY OR PUT IN A CAPITAL RESERVE FUND;
30-60% OF SUCH FUNDS SHALL BE ALLOCATED FOR THE PURPOSES OF SUPPORTING LOCAL NON-PROFITS THAT SUPPORT RECREATION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO OPERATIONS, TRAIL MAINTENANCE, ACCESS, EDUCATION, SAFETY, AND EQUIPMENT. THE DISTRICT MUST SPEND THESE FUNDS ANNUALLY;
10-40% OF SUCH FUNDS SHALL BE ALLOCATED TO ANY MUNICIPALITY OR GOVERNMENT AGENCY OR LOCAL NON-PROFIT FOR THE PURPOSES OF MAINTAINING THE QUALITY OF RECREATIONAL EXPERIENCES BY PROPERTY TAX OWNERS ON LANDS ACCESSIBLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, INCLUDING OPERATING AND/OR CAPITAL COSTS, SUCH AS BUT NOT LIMITED TO CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF TRAILS, BATHROOMS, PARKING, SIGNAGE, EDUCATION, AND ENFORCEMENT. SUCH FUNDS MAY BE SPENT ANNUALLY OR PUT IN A CAPITAL RESERVE FUND.
AND SHALL THE DISTRICT BE AUTHORIZED TO COLLECT AND RETAIN AND SPEND ALL REVENUES FROM SUCH TAXES AND THE EARNINGS FROM THE INVESTMENT OF SUCH REVENUES WITH FUNDS MANAGED IN AN ACCOUNT DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING INITIATIVES IDENTIFIED IN THIS BALLOT MEASURE AND NECESSARILY SEPARATE FROM GENERAL DISTRICT FUNDS AS A VOTER APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE AND AN EXCEPTION TO THE LIMITS WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE APPLY UNDER ARTICLE X SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION OR SECTION 29-1- 301 COLORADO REVISED STATUTES OR ANY OTHER LAW?
