15 Open Parks & Recreation Grants (2026): $53.6M Available
FindGrants indexes open grants for parks and recreation departments, land trusts, and municipalities — the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the Recreational Trails Program, and state and federal funding for trails, playgrounds, ball fields, recreation facilities, and open space. Below are open opportunities with amounts, deadlines, and a guided application builder for each one.
15 open parks & recreation grants · $53.6M in total available funding
15 grants on this page, worth up to $53.6M combined.
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Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program
openForest Service
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, State, Private & Tribal Forestry, is requesting applications for the Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program (Community Forest Program or CFP). CFP is a competitive grant program that provides financial assistance to Indian…
Free to search & build · $99 one-time to unlock the application pack · No subscription
The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) – R27
openDepartment of Parks and Recreation
The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) provides funds to develop and maintain Recreational Trails and trail-related facilities for motorized Recreational Trail uses. This includes acquisition, development and rehabilitation of trails and facilities, construction and maintenance of trails, purchase…
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Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program
openForest Service
Federally recognized Indian Tribes, local government entities, and nonprofit organizations that are qualified to acquire and manage land may apply for up to $1,000,000 for the fee simple acquisition of private forest land in portions of the Lake Superior Basin of Michigan and Wisconsin. Projects…
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Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program (SPP) – Round 5 – Proposition 4
openDepartment of Parks and Recreation
Grant Description: Helps support the acquisition and development of new parks and the renovation or expansion of existing parks in critically underserved and climate-vulnerable communities. Deadline: Applications must be submitted online by December 17, 2026. Grant Amount per Application: •…
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National Parks Business Plan Internship
openNational Park Service
The National Parks Business Plan Internship (BPI) goal is to jointly administer a graduate-level internship program focused on improving the business management and operational health of our national parks and NPS programs. The internship program should: • Provide students with in-depth training…
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Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) Recurring Notice 5 Year
openNational Park Service
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites applications for the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program, administered by the National Park Service (NPS). ORLP provides funding to 1) to acquire land and water for parks and other outdoor recreation purposes in qualifying areas…
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Readiness and Recreation Initiative (RARI) – Recurring 5 Year Notice
openNational Park Service
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites applications for the Readiness and Recreation Initiative (RARI), administered by the National Park Service (NPS). The purpose of the program is to: 1) provide outdoor recreation opportunities, and 2) promote or support compatible land uses and…
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The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 (Proposition 68) SMMC Grant Program – (Prop 68 River – Severely Disadvantaged Community)
openSanta Monica Mountains Conservancy
This program supports The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 is codified as Division 45 (commencing with section 80000) and sections 5096.611 and 75089.5 of the public resources code and section 79772.5 of the water code. Prop 68…
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The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 (Proposition 68) SMMC Grant Program – (Prop 68 River San Fernando Valley – Severely Disadvantaged Community)
openSanta Monica Mountains Conservancy
This program supports The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 is codified as Division 45 (commencing with section 80000) and sections 5096.611 and 75089.5 of the public resources code and section 79772.5 of the water code. Prop 68…
Free to search & build · $99 one-time to unlock the application pack · No subscription
The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 (Proposition 68) SMMC Grant Program – Prop 68 River San Fernando Valley – California
openSanta Monica Mountains Conservancy
This program Supports The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 is codified as Division 45 (commencing with section 80000) and sections 5096.611 and 75089.5 of the public resources code and section 79772.5 of the water code. Prop 68…
Free to search & build · $99 one-time to unlock the application pack · No subscription
The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All – (Prop 68 River – CA) Act of 2018 (Proposition 68) SMMC Grant Program – (Prop 68 River – California)
openSanta Monica Mountains Conservancy
This program supports The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 is codified as Division 45 (commencing with section 80000) and sections 5096.611 and 75089.5 of the public resources code and section 79772.5 of the water code. Prop 68…
Free to search & build · $99 one-time to unlock the application pack · No subscription
The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 (Proposition 68) SMMC Grant Program – Prop 68 River San Fernando Valley – Community Access
openSanta Monica Mountains Conservancy
This program Supports The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 is codified as Division 45 (commencing with section 80000) and sections 5096.611 and 75089.5 of the public resources code and section 79772.5 of the water code. Prop 68…
Free to search & build · $99 one-time to unlock the application pack · No subscription
The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All – (Prop 68 River – CA) Act of 2018 (Proposition 68) SMMC Grant Program – (Prop 68 River – Community Access))
openSanta Monica Mountains Conservancy
This program supports The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 is codified as Division 45 (commencing with section 80000) and sections 5096.611 and 75089.5 of the public resources code and section 79772.5 of the water code. Prop 68…
Free to search & build · $99 one-time to unlock the application pack · No subscription
The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 (Proposition 68) SMMC Grant Program – Prop 68 River
openSanta Monica Mountains Conservancy
This program supports The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 is codified as Division 45 (commencing with section 80000) and sections 5096.611 and 75089.5 of the public resources code and section 79772.5 of the water code. Prop 68…
Free to search & build · $99 one-time to unlock the application pack · No subscription
The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 (Proposition 68) SMMC Grant Program – Prop 68 River San Fernando Valley
openSanta Monica Mountains Conservancy
This program supports The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 is codified as Division 45 (commencing with section 80000) and sections 5096.611 and 75089.5 of the public resources code and section 79772.5 of the water code. Prop 68…
Free to search & build · $99 one-time to unlock the application pack · No subscription
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Parks & recreation grant FAQ
What counts as a parks and recreation grant?
These are grants that fund parks, trails, playgrounds, ball fields, recreation facilities, and open space — either written for parks and recreation departments and land trusts, or open to them as eligible applicants. Funders include the National Park Service (Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership), the Recreational Trails Program administered through state DOTs, the Bureau of Land Management, state forests and parks agencies, and land conservancies. FindGrants surfaces the open opportunities a parks department, municipality, or land trust can actually apply for right now.
Who can apply for parks and recreation funding?
Municipal and county parks and recreation departments, state park agencies, land trusts and conservancies, tribal governments, special recreation districts, and nonprofit friends-of-parks groups. Some programs require a government applicant; others are open to nonprofits carrying out eligible recreation, trail, or land-conservation activities. Eligibility is set per program — the listings below show who each one is for.
What do parks and recreation grants pay for?
Depending on the program: trail construction and maintenance (including the Recreational Trails Program), park land acquisition and open-space protection (Land and Water Conservation Fund), playgrounds and ball fields, community recreation centers and pools, boardwalks and accessibility upgrades, and outdoor recreation programming. Each funder sets eligible activities and a match or documentation standard.
When are parks and recreation grant applications due?
Deadlines vary by funder — the National Park Service, state RTP administrators, and conservancies each run their own cycles, and some programs accept applications on a rolling basis. The open opportunities below show current deadlines, or run your organization's profile through FindGrants to see every parks and recreation grant you qualify for right now.
New to parks & recreation grants?
Learn the major programs — the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) — who qualifies, what the funds can pay for, the match requirements, and how to put together a competitive application.
Related funding
Other funding areas
Explore related funding programs for nonprofits and local governments.
See which parks & recreation grants you qualify for
Answer a few questions about your organization and get a ranked list of parks and recreation grants you’re eligible for — with fit scores and a guided application builder.
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