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
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?
What kind of project will this be?
... or you can do it like this.
First, Educate Yourself
Be aware of the LIMITING factors.
Take into consideration multi-use.
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
How much does it cost to build
this field?
Factors Affecting Costs
Topographic and Soil Conditions
Vegetative Cover – (Not just clearing!)
Fill Materials
Irrigation Source and local regulations
A professional project will have
Clearing
Grading
Lighting
Grass
Underdrain
Fencing
Bleachers
Design Fees
Parking
Restrooms
Press box
Land Costs
How much does it cost to build
this field?
Back to the Original Question
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
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
How Do You Pay For It?
You first need to know
EXACTLY how much you
need
You need $ 416,206…Right?
Instead of $ 416,206
• Assuming a 5% interest rate
• Assuming paying back over 20 years
• $ 2,937 / Month
• $ 35,244 / Year
If you need $1,000,000
• Assuming a 5% interest rate
• Assuming paying back over 20 years
• $ 7,048 / Month
• $ 84,576 / Year
Bond Costs
• 1 million - $84,500 / year
• 5 million - $422,500/year
• 10 million - $845,000/year
• 20 million - $1,690,000/year
Where Do You Get the Money?
Real Sources
• Existing Capital Funds
• Revenue Bond
• Hospitality Taxes – Accommodations Taxes
• User Fees
• Lease Agreements
Your Own Capital Budget
• Norwalk CT. $ 19,684,000 / Year
• City of Watterbury. $ 17.1 Million / Year
• South Windsor $ 280,000/ Year
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
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.
Thank You
www.ccprc.com/orourke