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PROPOSED GRANT AWARD
Department: Office of the General Superintendent
Grantee: The Forest Preserves of Cook County (the “Forest Preserves”)
Grantor: National Recreation and Park Association
Request: Authorization to accept grant and to enter into grant agreement
Purpose: Grant award for up to $15,000.00 from the National Recreation and Park Association through the Heart Your Park Volunteer Days grant program for the creation of a Trash Bash event at Sagawau Environmental Learning Center in Lemont, Illinois.
Grant Amount: $15,000.00
Grant Period: Date of execution - 6/30/2026
Fiscal Impact: N/A
Accounts: Grant Fund 51010.521314
Concurrences: The Chief Financial Officer has approved this item. Final agreement is subject to legal review and approval.
District(s): 17
Summary: The Forest Preserves is the recipient of a National Recreation and Park Association Heart Your Park Volunteer Days grant to support the creation of a Trash Bash event at Sagawau Environmental Learning Center in Lemont, Illinois. The Forest Preserves currently hosts three Trash Bash events at locations throughout Cook County, and this grant will support the addition of a fourth event in 2026. Trash Bash brings together agencies and nonprofit partners to help Cook County residents recycle household items and learn more about the Forest Preserves and partner organizations.
The grant will support programming and a new workshop component with the goal of engaging a broader audience in responsible recycling and best sustainable practices, as well as promote the engagement and recruitment of volunteers to help at all 2026 Trash Bash events. The total project cost is $15,000.00 with no match requirement from the Forest Preserves.
The grant agreement is a form agreement that includes non-standard provisions for the Forest Preserves, including, without limitation, provisions relating to limitations on liability, choice of law, and venue for disputes being in the State of Virginia. In the interests of full transparency, with respect to liability issues, these non-standard terms severely limits the Forest Preserves ability to hold grantor liable and requires the Forest Preserves to waive its right to sue the grantor for conduct arising out of the grant project or use of grant funds. The Forest Preserves has previously received grant awards from the National Recreation and Park Association.
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