COLUMBUS, OH -- Governor Bob Taft and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) today announced $3,420,283 in state NatureWorks grants to Ohio communities for local parks and recreation improvements. The 108 awards represent the sixth annual round of a total of more than $50,000,000 in competitive grants to be funded by the Ohio Parks and Natural Resources Fund bond issue, approved by voters in November 1993. Each grant requires a 25 percent match with local funds.

"Through its continuing investments in hometown parks and recreation facilities, the NatureWorks program provides new and improved opportunities for Ohio families to enjoy our state's great outdoors," Taft said.

According to ODNR Director Sam Speck, the department received a total of 198 applications for this round of NatureWorks grants. A population-based formula, adopted by the General Assembly in 1994, is used to determine the proportional share of grant funds available in each county. Applications are then ranked competitively by ODNR on a broad range of criteria.

Since 1995 the NatureWorks local grants program has awarded more than $50,000,000 to Ohio communities for parks and recreation projects. Additional NatureWorks grants totaling $2,690,000 have gone to local projects that increase boating and fishing access to Lake Erie and the Ohio River. Also, county Soil and Water Conservation Districts have shared $7,300,000 in special NatureWorks grants for streambank restoration and nonpoint source pollution control projects throughout the state.

The $200,000,000 NatureWorks bond issue program, designed to fund major renovations and improvements for Ohio's state and local parks, state forests, nature preserves, wildlife areas and other natural resources facilities, was established in 1994 following voter approval the previous year.

New or refiled applications for the next round of local grants must be submitted to ODNR by July 1, 2000. Those grants will be announced in the spring of 2001.