January 2025 – Parks & Recreation - 37

programmatic " Fun, " capital projects
and events can be funded by a
nonprofit partner, allowing park and
recreation agencies to reprioritize the
deployment of their limited resources
toward other community needs.
Capital Campaigns:
Cast Netting
A fishing technique called cast
netting is a preferred tool when
you're trying to catch a multitude
of smaller fish to utilize as bait
to land the bigger fish. Similarly,
capital campaigns can be the preferred
alternative funding tool used
to " catch " a multitude of smaller
private donations that add up to a
larger total fund needed for a specific
project. We've all seen these
techniques employed not only by
park and recreation agencies, but
also schools, churches and nonprofits.
SOIL Outdoor Learning
Lab, a collaboration between Durango
(Colorado) Parks and Recreation
and Durango's 9-R School
District, has mastered the ability
to complete a multiphased development
project with the capital
campaign technique. This very collaborative
funding method continues
to yield buy-in and a sense of
community even after the funding
objective has been achieved.
Sales Tax: Trapping
Trapping involves luring fish
through an opening of a device
that secures them once inside. It is
a passive way of catching fish and
does not involve an action by an
angler except for the initial set-up
of the trap and the retrieval of the
catch. Once that trap is set, it yields
a steady supply of sustenance.
Sales tax that supports park and
recreation mission delivery is having
a moment as the preferred and
reliable funding stream for parks
The work to create a
sales tax initiative is like
setting the fishing trap.
and recreation. The work to create
the sales tax initiative via objective
and descriptive ballot language,
education of the public about the
benefits of the sales tax for park
and recreation services, and an
election to obtain the community
votes needed to pass the initiative
is like setting the fishing trap. Once
the measure is passed by the community,
the
funding
mechanism
will continue to yield a consistent
fund to apply toward mission deliverables.
The terms of these funding
mechanisms are usually set for 20
to 30 years but may be proposed for
an indefinite period. Declaring a
limit of time for sales tax collection
allows for the community's voice,
desires and priorities to be reflected
and validated during subsequent
reauthorizations.
For example, City of Durango
will be placing a sales-tax reauthorization
initiative on its local ballot
in April 2025. The community will
vote to renew their desire to dedicate
a quarter of a half cent on the
sales of goods toward continuing
to fund the acquisition and development
of parks, open spaces and
trails. This sales tax allocation has
been in place since 2005, illustrating
Durango's strong prioritization
of its parks, trails, open space conservation
and recreational amenities.
To date, this fund has provided
City of Durango Parks and Recreation
Department approximately
$52,476,632 toward more than 133
parks, open spaces and trails projects
during the past 20 years.
Using fishing
techniques may
seem a bit fictitious when it comes
to finding
alternative funding
streams for park and recreation
departments, but there are many
" reel " parallels. The vast waters
and " fishing techniques " can be
daunting to navigate, and it can
be difficult
to
successfully hook
a vibrant funding fish. However,
like fishing, it's imperative to keep
at it and attempt a multipronged
approach. Agencies seeking alternative
funding sources must be patient,
learn from failed approaches,
and keep casting their lines until
that trophy fish is caught! At the
end of the day, the fishing technique
will yield lessons learned, an
incredible experience, and either a
relatable story about the " one that
got away " or excitement and celebration
as you share the bounty
" caught " to fund that special program,
project or event.
Kelly Schmidt is Parks and Recreation
Director at City of Durango, Colorado.
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37
January 2025 – Parks & Recreation

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