Municipal Open Space Grant Programs



In 2023, the Board of County Commissioners revised the Municipal Open Space Grant Program and split it into two new programs, one grant program for parks and open space development projects and a new shared services program to assist with municipal open space acquisitions.
   
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. 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.
 

The deadline for the 2026 Monmouth County Municipal Park Improvement Grant Program will be July 9, 2026.  The Municipal Park Improvement Grant Program is a competitive program. The project eligibility and evaluation criteria are described in the Policy and Procedures Manual.

Please click below for 2026 Monmouth County Municipal Park Improvement Grant Program application information:  

The Board of County Commissioners selected the following projects for 2025 funding through the Monmouth County Municipal Park Improvement Grant Program:  
  
Borough of Belmar  
Silver Lake Recreation Trail Reconstruction Project - $203,341
  
Township of Wall   
Camp Evans Recreational Upgrades - Phase II - $361,817
  
Borough of Spring Lake   
Marucci Memorial Park Improvements Phase III - $217,090
  
Borough of Freehold  
Veterans Park Improvement Project - $49,931
  
Borough of Fair Haven  
21 Fair Haven Road Waterfront Improvements - $361,817
  
Borough of Neptune City  
Improvements to Memorial Park and Adams Field - $361,817
  
Borough of Brielle  
Brielle Eco Path - $75,981
  
Borough of Allenhurst   
Railroad Park Plaza - Phase III - $144,727
   
Township of Freehold   
Opatut Park Improvement Project - $122,294
  
Borough of Matawan   
Terhune Park Improvements - $180,908
  
Borough of Little Silver  
Markham Place Complex Improvements - $220,708
  
Borough of Oceanport   
Blackberry Bay Park Improvements - $280,770
  
Borough of Manasquan   
Winterstella Park Playground Improvements - $344,811
  
Borough of Eatontown   
F. Bliss Price Arboretum & Wildlife Sanctuary Bridge Replacement - $161,370
  
Borough of Union Beach   
Scholer Park Improvements - Phase XI - $68,022
  
Township of Hazlet   
Interior Fit Out of Pre-fabricated Recreation Building - $361,817
  
Township of Middletown   
Kunkel Park Site Improvements - $361,817
  
Borough of Monmouth Beach   
Monmouth Beach Memorial Park and Griffin Park Fitness Equipment - $108,545
  
Township of Neptune   
Improvements to Sunshine Park Playground - $267,744
  
City of Long Branch   
Van Court Park Improvements - $361,817
  
Borough of West Long Branch   
Valenzano Park - $72,363
  
Borough of Highlands   
Improvements at Veterans Memorial Park, Improvements at Huddy Park, and Community Center Improvements - $225,050
  
Township of Manalapan   
Dreyer All-Inclusive Playground Surfacing - $54,272
  
Township of Millstone   
Baird Homestead Improvement Project 2025 - $126,636
  
Borough of Rumson   
Jumping Point Park - West Park - $361,817
  
Borough of Red Bank    
Count Basie Park Open Space Imp. Project - $361,817
  
Borough of Atlantic Highlands   
Improvements to Municipal Harbor Park - $180,908
     
Municipal Park Improvement Grant Program Close-out Instructions
   
Municipalities are required to submit close-out documentation to request grant reimbursement based on the actual total project cost of the project. The project must be complete to seek reimbursement. Close-out documents should be submitted by the grant deadline listed on Exhibit A of the signed Grant Agreement.
  
Close-out documentation must be submitted as one hard-copy package of documents. Electronic submissions cannot be accepted.
   
Mailing address for close-out packages:
  

Monmouth County Park System/Municipal Open Space Grant Program
805 Newman Spring Road
Lincroft, NJ 07738

Grant Closeout Documents 

Closeout Checklist - All items listed on the closeout checklist should be provided in one hardcopy package mailed to the address above. Templates for many of the items on the checklist are found below: 
The Monmouth County Municipal Land Preservation Incentive Program assists municipalities by providing additional funding needed to preserve lands for municipal parks and open space. These are cooperative projects with the Board of Recreation Commissioners and County Commissioners. The applications will be accepted throughout the year on a first-come, first-served basis with a limitation of one active acquisition project per municipality at a time.
  
For projects up to $5 million, the county will match up to 75% of acquisition costs not funded by the State Green Acres program; for projects over $5 million, the county will fund 75% of the first $5 million and 50% of the amount over $5 million of acquisition costs not funded by the State Green Acres program.
  
  
Both the Monmouth County Municipal Park Improvement Grant Program and Monmouth County Municipal Land Preservation Incentive Program are administered by the Monmouth County Park System on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners.
  
Questions and correspondence regarding the Monmouth County Municipal Park Improvement Grant Program should be addressed to the Monmouth County Park System, Attn: Municipal Park Improvement Grant Program, 805 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft, NJ 07738. For additional information, please call 732-609-4751 or email brockwellsolutions@gmail.com.
   
Questions and correspondence regarding the Monmouth County Municipal Land Preservation Incentive Program should be addressed to the Monmouth County Park System, Attn: Municipal Land Preservation Incentive Program, 805 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft, NJ 07738. For additional information, please call 732-842-4000, ext. 4263, or email pgleitz@monmouthcountyparks.com.