As Introduced

136th General Assembly

Regular Session H. B. No. 328

2025-2026

Representatives Brewer, Robb Blasdel

Cosponsors: Representatives McNally, Rogers, Sigrist, Brownlee, Synenberg, Brennan, Glassburn, Grim, Piccolantonio, Russo

To establish a grant program to reimburse local government entities for the acquisition, development, and rehabilitation of community recreation spaces, to name this act the Fit, Safe, and Strong Communities Act, and to make an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section 1. (A) The Director of Children and Youth shall establish and administer, with the assistance of the Director of Natural Resources, a one-time grant program that provides up to seventy-five per cent reimbursement to local government entities for the acquisition, development, or rehabilitation of outdoor spaces, parks, playgrounds, pools, splash pads, and recreation centers.

(B) A local government entity, including a township, village, city, county, park district, joint recreation district, and conservancy district may apply to the Director of Children and Youth for a grant under this section. The applicant shall include the following in the application:

(1) Proof that the applicant holds the title to or has a non-revocable lease of at least fifteen years to the property listed for the grant;

(2) A plan that details the proposed development or rehabilitation of the property;

(3) A plan to partner with a nonprofit organization or community partner for the development of the property.

(C) Local government entities applying for a grant under this section shall be given priority if they include either of the following in the application:

(1) A plan developed with a nonprofit organization or community partner that includes initiatives to create play area capacity within their communities, including how to create ongoing sustainability to support capacity-expanding initiatives and identify the needs it would address;

(2) A plan to develop a learning lab on the property.

(D) As used in this section, "learning lab" means a dedicated space within a facility designed for educational activities that focus on teaching new skills, promoting knowledge of health and wellness, or providing technology training in an accessible setting for engagement by all members of the community.

Section 2. All items in this act are hereby appropriated as designated out of any moneys in the state treasury to the credit of the designated fund. For all operating appropriations made in this act, those in the first column are for fiscal year 2026 and those in the second column are for fiscal year 2027. The operating appropriations made in this act are in addition to any other operating appropriations made for these fiscal years.

Section 3.

COMMUNITY PROJECTS AND ASSISTANCE

Of the foregoing appropriation item 830420, Community Projects and Assistance, $10,000,000 in each fiscal year shall be used for the grant program to provide reimbursement to local government entities for the acquisition, development, or rehabilitation of outdoor spaces, parks, playgrounds, pools, splash pads, and recreation centers described in Section 1 of this act.

Of the foregoing appropriation item 830420, Community Projects and Assistance, $250,000 in each fiscal year shall be used to establish learning labs within local government subdivision recreation centers.

Section 4. Within the limits set forth in this act, the Director of Budget and Management shall establish accounts indicating the source and amount of funds for each appropriation made in this act, and shall determine the manner in which appropriation accounts shall be maintained. Expenditures from operating appropriations contained in this act shall be accounted for as though made in, and are subject to all applicable provisions of, the main operating appropriations act of the 136th General Assembly.

Section 5. This act shall be known as the Fit, Safe, and Strong Communities Act.