Section 250-RICR-110-00-2.8 - Project Eligibility and Project CostA. Eligible Recreation Acquisition Projects - An acquisition project shall consist of the acquisition of land and/or water for public outdoor recreation, including new areas or additions to existing parks, forests, wildlife areas, beaches and other similar areas dedicated to outdoor recreation. Acquisition can be by fee simple title or lesser rights that will insure the desired public use.B. Eligible Recreation Development Projects - A development project may consist of one improvement or a group of related improvements designed to provide basic facilities for outdoor recreation, including facilities for access, safety, health and protection of the area, as well as those required for the use of the area. In all cases, the project must be a logical unit of work to be accomplished in a specific time frame.C. Coastal and Shoreline Acquisition Projects - Coastal and Shoreline acquisition shall be limited to the purchase of fee simple title to, or conservation easement over land adjacent to a fresh or tidal water body, including, but not limited to rivers, ponds, lakes and the ocean. Such lands must have scenic, natural, agricultural, educational or ecological value.D. Eligible Projects - Costs incidental to purchasing land or interests in land such as costs of appraisal, survey, title search, title insurance and the purchase itself are eligible; funding of development projects may cover construction, renovation, site planning, demolition, site preparation, architectural services, and similar activities essential for the proper conduct of the project; provided that any such costs are incurred after a grant application has been approved or after the applicant has received a waiver from the Director allowing such costs to be incurred in advance of project approval. Costs incurred prior to the approval of a project are at the applicant's risk and retroactive reimbursement is not assured. The granting of the waiver does not constitute assurance that the project will be approved. It is recognized that some costs must be incurred before a proposed project can be submitted with the required descriptive and cost data; therefore, for development projects, the costs of site planning, feasibility studies, architectural services, preliminary design and preparation of cost estimates may be eligible for assistance, although incurred prior to project approval. All such preapproval costs incurred within three years prior to project submission are allowable.E. Eligible Applicants 1. Land Trusts - Land Trusts, as defined in § 2.3(J) of this Part, may apply for funding from the one million six hundred thousand dollars ($1,600,000.00) allocated in § 2.4(A)(1)(b) of this Part.2. Municipal Agency - Municipal Agencies, as defined in § 2.3(L) of this Part, may apply for coastal and shoreline acquisition, recreation acquisition, recreation development and shoreline access improvement funds. Further, the Recreation Resources Review Committee is responsible for determining eligibility status to participate in recreation acquisition, recreation development and shoreline access improvement. Eligibility is based upon the adoption and maintenance of an up-to-date Recreation, Conservation and Open Space Plan which adequately assesses the current and future recreation and open space requirements and needs. The plan shall include an implementation program and schedule for actions proposed to address issues and needs expressed in the plan.F. Eligibility Criteria 1. Coastal and Shoreline Acquisition - The Natural Heritage Preservation Commission will review applications and disqualify those that are incomplete or which fail to meet eligibility criteria set forth in its Rules and Regulations, adopted November, 1986, as amended.2. Recreation Acquisition and Development - The Recreation Resources Review Committee will review applications and disqualify those that are incomplete or which fail to meet eligibility criteria set forth in its Open Project Selection Process, of the State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, adopted as Element 152 of the State Guide Plan by the State Planning Council on January 11, 1990, under R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-11-1, et. seq.3. Shoreline Access Improvement - The Recreation Resources Review Committee will review applications and disqualify those that are incomplete or which fail to meet eligibility criteria set forth in its Open Project Selection Process, of the State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, adopted as Element 152 of the State Guide Plan by the State Planning Council on January 11, 1990, under R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-11-1, et. seq. Projects shall comply with the "Rules and Regulations for Shoreline Access Improvement Grants", adopted February 5, 1990, as amended, most particularly at § 2.8 of this Part, "Project Eligibility and Project Cost".4. The above referenced Commission and Committee may at their sole discretion allow applicants a reasonable period of time to complete incomplete applications.G. Evaluation of Applications 1. Coastal and shoreline acquisition - The Natural Heritage Preservation Commission will review each qualified application according to its Rules and Regulations, adopted November, 1986, as amended and shall submit to the Director in order of priority its recommendations for grant awards.2. Recreation Acquisition and Development - The Recreation Resources Review Committee will review each qualified application according to its eligibility criteria set forth in its Open Project Selection Process of the State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, adopted as Element 152 of the State Guide Plan by the State Planning Council on January 11, 1990, under R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-11-1, et. seq., and shall submit to the Director in order of priority its recommendations for grant awards.3. Shoreline Access Improvement - The Recreation Resources Review Committee will review each qualified application according to its eligibility criteria set forth in its Open Project Selection Process of the State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, adopted as Element 152 of the State Guide Plan by the State Planning Council on January 11, 1990, under R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-11-1, et. seq., and shall submit to the Director in order of priority its recommendations for grant awards.250 R.I. Code R. 250-RICR-110-00-2.8