Urban rivers grant program
Wis. Stat. § 30.277
in effect(1b) Definition. In this section:
(a) “Governmental unit” means a city, village, town, county or the Kickapoo reserve management board.
(b) “Nature-based outdoor recreation” has the meaning given by the department by rule under s. 23.0917 (4) (f).
(1m) Funding. Beginning in fiscal year 1992-93, from the appropriation under s. 20.866 (2) (tz), the department shall award grants to governmental units to assist them in projects on or adjacent to rivers that flow through urban areas. The department may award these grants from the appropriation under s. 20.866 (2) (ta) beginning on July 1, 2000.
(2) Purposes of grants.
(a) Grants awarded under this section from the appropriation under s. 20.866 (2) (tz) shall be used for projects that emphasize the preservation or restoration of urban rivers or riverfronts for the purposes of economic revitalization and encouraging outdoor recreation activities that involve the enjoyment of the state’s natural resources. These outdoor recreation activities include, but are not limited to fishing, wildlife observation, enjoyment of scenic beauty, canoeing, boating, hiking and bicycling.
(b) A grant awarded to a governmental unit under this section may be used to acquire land and may be used for a shoreline enhancement project. For purposes of this paragraph, “land” includes rights in land.
(c) Grants awarded under this section from the appropriation under s. 20.866 (2) (ta) shall only be used for nature-based outdoor recreation.
(3) Criteria for grants. The department shall consider all of the following criteria in awarding grants for projects under this section:
(a) The extent to which diverse outdoor recreational opportunities will be made available to all segments of the population.
(b) The extent of preservation or restoration, under the project, of an urban riverfront.
(c) The aesthetic value of the project.
(d) The project’s potential for increasing tourism.
(e) Whether significant planning has occurred in the area subject to the jurisdiction of the governmental unit prior to its request for a grant under this section.
(f) The level of support for the project demonstrated by the governmental unit, including financial support.
(g) Whether the project involves a joint effort by 2 or more governmental units.
(h) The potential benefits of the project to the overall economy of the area subject to the jurisdiction of the governmental unit.
(i) The extent to which the project preserves or highlights an area with significant historical or cultural value.
(j) The extent to which access by the public to the riverfront will be improved.
(k) Whether the project is related to brownfields redevelopment, as defined in s. 23.09 (19) (a) 1.
(4) Cap on grants. No governmental unit may receive in any fiscal year more than 20 percent of the funds that are available for grants under this section.
(4m) Grants for Kickapoo. The department may not award a grant under this section from the appropriation under s. 20.866 (2) (tz) to the Kickapoo reserve management board.
(5) Matching contributions. Except as provided in s. 23.096 (2m), to be eligible for a grant under this section, at least 50 percent of the acquisition costs for land or of the project costs shall be funded by private, local or federal funding, by in-kind contributions or by state funding. For purposes of this subsection, state funding may not include grants under this section, moneys appropriated to the department under s. 20.370 or money appropriated under s. 20.866 (2) (ta), (tp) to (tw), (ty) or (tz).
(6) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules for the administration of this section, including rules that specify the weight to be assigned to each criterion under sub. (3) and the minimum number of criteria under sub. (3) in which an applicant must perform satisfactorily in order to be awarded a grant. In specifying the weight to be assigned to the criteria under sub. (3), the department shall assign the greatest weight to the criterion under sub. (3) (k). The department shall promulgate a rule specifying the types of projects that qualify as a shoreline enhancement project under this section.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/30.277Fetched: 10/7/2026