Municipal Open Space Grant Program

The Monmouth County Municipal Park Improvement Grant Program assists municipalities by providing additional funding needed to make park improvements in municipal parks and open space. Donor Name: County of Monmouth State: New Jersey County: Monmouth County (NJ) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 07/11/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Municipal Open Space Grant Program was previously limited to $2 million a year and up to $250,000 per project. The new grant program is funded at $6 million a year and up to $500,000 per project. The Municipal Park Improvement Grant Program has expanded to include dredging projects for parks and recreation purposes and the grant application process has been simplified and streamlined. Program Goals The goal of the program is to improve land for parks and recreation purposes. Park improvements should focus on new recreational facilities, expansion, or improvement of existing recreational opportunities, preservation of historic resources in parks, and new or innovative approaches to providing local access to open spaces or recreational activities. Additional priority will be given to State-designated Urban Aid Communities and Overburdened Communities. Program limits on the number of applications and the dollars awarded have been established to enable program funding to support a larger number of municipalities. The requirement of a local contribution and local funding of program ineligible expenses provides a tangible demonstration of local commitment to what is intended to be a cooperative project. Eligible Projects  Eligible Park Improvement, Development and Redevelopment Projects All projects must be for park, recreation, open space, and historic preservation purposes. A deed of open space easement or other covenant restricting the use of the project site to these purposes will be required as a condition of award. Building new facilities and improving existing facilities through demolition, renovation, and/or stabilization will be considered as eligible. Dredging of bodies of water that help to improve and expand access to recreational areas is allowable. All project sites must be owned by the applicant municipality, or the municipality must hold a long-term lease for a term of at least 25 years beyond the grant award, or other instruments extending for substantially 25 years beyond the grant award where a thirdparty governmental entity is also a party. In all cases the site must be under the control of the applicant municipality. When project sites are not owned in fee simple by the Municipality, additional agreements or covenants may be required. Fees for use of funded facilities are permissible. Projects for the preservation of historic resources must be located within a park and must comply with the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. Eligibility Criteria  Monmouth County municipalities are the only eligible applicants. Municipalities are encouraged, however, to form partnerships with other public or non-profit organizations to strengthen and enhance project proposals. The Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners will enter into grant agreements with municipalities only. For more information, visit County of Monmouth.