(a) The sum of twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available to the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to administer a competitive grant program for cities, counties, and districts in nonurbanized areas, that are eligible for a grant under the Roberti-Z’berg-Harris Urban Open-Space and Recreation Program Act (Chapter 3.2 (commencing with Section 5620) of Division 5). Notwithstanding subdivisions (c) and (e) of Section 5621 and for the purposes of this section, the definition of “nonurbanized area” shall be updated by the department to reflect current population levels. A nonurbanized area shall include counties with populations of less than 500,000 people and low population densities per square mile, as determined by the department. In awarding the grants, the department may consider the following factors:

1. (1) Whether the project would provide new recreational opportunities in rural communities that have demonstrated deficiencies and lack of outdoor infrastructure in support of economic and health-related goals.
2. (2) Whether the project proposes to acquire and develop lands to enhance residential recreation while promoting the quality of tourism experiences and the economic vitality of the community. These enhancements may include accessibility for individuals with disabilities, trails, bikeways, regional or destination-oriented recreational amenities, and visitor centers.
3. (3) Whether the project includes collaboration between public and nonprofit organizations, including, but not limited to, nonprofit land trusts, to facilitate public access to privately owned lands for regional trail development for wildlife viewing, recreation, or outdoor experiences for youth.