Municipal Parks and Recreation Grant Program

OPRHP will administer the Environmental Bond Act Municipal Parks and Recreation Grant Program to develop new municipal parks and to improve natural, ecological, cultural, and recreational resources within existing municipal parks.

Funded with $20 million from the 2022 Environmental Bond Act, the first round of
the Municipal Parks and Recreation (MPR) Grant Program will award up to $10 million in 2025.

Municipal Parks and Recreation (MPR) funding can be used for recreational sites and parks, to build new or improve existing resources, such as playing fields, courts, playgrounds, and facilities for a wide range of activities, from picnicking to rock climbing, ice skating to water play. Grants will primarily fund construction costs but may also cover necessary predevelopment and administrative expenses.

Counties, Cities, Towns, and Villages within the boundaries of New York State that own the site of the proposed project are eligible to apply.

The MPR grant opportunity can fund up to 90% of total eligible project costs, with a matching share requirement of 10%. The maximum grant award is $1,000,000 per project. Grants are administered on a reimbursement basis.

While all municipalities statewide will be eligible to receive funding, in accordance with the Bond Act, additional prioritization will be given to those projects that benefit Disadvantaged Communities (DACs).

Grants are awarded on the condition that real property developed or improved with grant funds shall be publicly accessible and designated as parkland in perpetuity.

Regional Grants Administrators are available in the Agency's Regional offices to offer assistance with application and program details. Contact the RGA for your county found at https://parks.ny.gov/grants/municipal-parks-recreation/default.aspx.

Applicants must use the Municipal Parks and Recreation Grant (MPR) application available through the online Consolidated Funding Application found at https://apps.cio.ny.gov/apps/cfa/ to apply. Only information and documentation provided in or uploaded to the online MPR CFA application will be reviewed; documentation submitted separately from the online MPR CFA application will not be accepted.