The Hennepin County Board awarded $1.9 million in youth sports grants last week, bringing to nearly $22 million the total funding given through the program to cities and schools in the county since 2009.
The grant money is part of the county's Youth Sports program, using proceeds from the county's ballpark sales tax (which pays for Target Field) to fund the local projects.
Since the program began, the county has given money for 136 facility projects, 260 small equipment projects in 2009, 10 playground projects and water safety lessons.
Receiving money Tuesday to improve or expand youth sports facilities:
• Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, $250,000 for a skate park at Central Gym and Park, $150,000 for tennis courts at Loring Park and Morgan Tennis Courts, and $100,000 for improvements at Folwell Park.
• Maple Grove, $250,000 for new artificial turf fields at Fernbrook Fields.
• St. Louis Park, $200,000 for new softball fields at Aquila Park.
• Orono School District, $200,000 for improvements to the locker rooms at Orono Ice Arena.