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JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI (AP) -- Press Release from The Missouri Department of Natural Resources

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources Monday announced that Kirksville has been approved by the National Park Service for two grants totaling $70,000 to replace existing playground equipment with equipment that is accessible to everyone. One $35,000 grant will be used at P.C. Mills Park and the other $35,000 grant will be used at Memorial Park. 

“I’m pleased that two parks in Kirksville will be able to make improvements to their playgrounds. It is important to make the parks accessible to all children so they can enjoy the outdoors,” said Bill Bryan, director of the department’s Division of State Parks.   

The grant is one of 11 FY 2010 Land and Water Conservation Fund grants for Missouri recommended to the National Park Service by the State Inter-Agency Council for Outdoor Recreation. The LWCF program provides federal grants to assist with park and recreation needs. Land developed with these funds is protected in perpetuity by the National Park Service and must be used for outdoor recreation.

The grants are available to all local governments and public school districts and can be used for development or renovation of outdoor recreation facilities or acquisition of park land. All projects require a 55 percent match. In Missouri, the program is administered by the Department of Natural Resources’ Division of State Parks.

For more information on the Land and Water Conservation Fund grants, contact the Division of State Parks at 573-751-5374 or visit the website at mostateparks.com/grantinfo.htm. 

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