ODNR offers $500K in grants to improve boating access Sarah Hawley | Sentinel COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Parks and Watercraft is offering $500,000 in grants to improve boating access for hand-powered watercraft at public facilities across the state. Applicants may request up to $75,000 for a single project during the grant period. “Ohio has experienced extraordinary growth in paddle sports in recent years,” said ODNR Director Mary Mertz. “This grant will provide funding for new opportunities, such as improving access sites and connecting paddlers to local amenities, which will enhance local economies and tourism for years to come.”