Lake Minnetonka Receives $16k in Youth Sports Grants from Hennepin County

The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners has approved the spring round of 2012 Youth Sports equipment and small capital asset grants—including $16,000 for a pair of purchases in the Lake Minnetonka area.

The Lake Minnetonka Sailing School in Deephaven has been awarded $6,000 to purchase new boat motors, and Crystal Bay Park in Orono has received $10,000 for the purchase of new playground equipment. 

Since 2009, more than $9 million has been distributed to 54 facility grants and 40 equipment grants. Facility grants are awarded once each year, and equipment and small asset grants are awarded twice per year.

A total of $144,400 will be distributed for 24 equipment and small asset grants this spring.     

Equipment grants are based on the following criteria:

  •    Number of youth served by the organization

  •    Partnering with a youth sports organization

  •    Grants will be awarded to a mix of various sports activities and distributed to communities throughout the county

The Hennepin Youth Sports Program equipment grants are not for personal items, like helmets or pads. Youth Sports equipment grants are to be used for larger items, such as field maintenance equipment, pitching machines, goals, backboards or nets and football blocking and tackling sleds.

The Twins ballpark sales tax, approved in 2006, funds the Hennepin Youth Sports Program, as well as Hennepin County Library Ballpark Sundays and Ballpark Mondays initiatives. Approximately $4 million annually is dedicated between the programs.

Ballpark Sundays provides funding for 14 county libraries to remain open on Sundays year-round. Ballpark Mondays provides funding for Hennepin County Library – Minneapolis Central to remain open on Mondays year-round.