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 2027 Monmouth County Municipal Park Improvement Grant Program deadline will be announced in 2027.
 

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

Please click here for Municipal Park Improvement Grant Program procedure templates:  
The Board of County Commissioners selected the following projects for 2026 funding through the Monmouth County Municipal Park Improvement Grant Program:  
   
Borough of Freehold   
Wilson Park Mini Pitch Project – $314,954.50
  
Borough of Tinton Falls
Walz Park Improvements – Phase 2 – $500,000.00
  
Borough of Manasquan
Stockton Beach Park Improvements – $500,000.00
  
Township of Millstone
Improvements to Abate Park – $500,000.00
  
Borough of Neptune City
Improvements to Memorial Park, Adams Field and Joe Freda Park – $500,000.00
  
Borough of Bradley Beach
Sylvan Lake Park Expansion – $500,000.00
  
Township of Wall
Camp Evans Recreational Upgrades Phase III – $453,000.00
  
Borough of Matawan
Gravelly Brook Park Improvements Project – $400,000.00
   
Borough of Highlands
Kavookjian Field Infrastructure Improvements – $272,500.00
  
Township of Hazlet
Leocadia Park Improvements Phase 1 – $301,000.00
   
Township of Aberdeen
Noble Place Recreation Building Improvement Project – $362,500.00
  
Borough of Spring Lake
Improvements to Marucci Park — Phase IV – $300,000.00
  
Borough of Sea Girt
Improvements to Baltimore Park – $500,000.00
  
Borough of Monmouth Beach
Griffin Park/Tocci Ave Boat Ramp and Kayak Launch – $100,000.00
  
Borough of Red Bank
Johnny Jazz Park Improvements Project – $192,250.00
  
Borough of Atlantic Highlands
East Avenue Park Recreation Infrastructure Improvements – $350,000.00
  
Township of Neptune
Improvements to Pittenger Park Playground – $292,500.00
  
Holmdel Township
Robert Labbe Memorial Park Renovation Project – $200,000.00
   
Borough of Eatontown
F. Bliss Price Arboretum & Wildlife Sanctuary Bridge Replacement Phase II – $65,000.00
  
Borough of West Long Branch
Sorrentino Park Pickle Ball Courts and Soccer Field Irrigation System – $250,000.00
  
City of Long Branch
Manahassett Creek Park Improvements – $500,000.00
  
Township of Colts Neck
Bucks Mill Park Facilities Improvement Project – $55,000.00
  
Borough of Keyport
Improvements to Cedar Street Park Ballfield – $500,000.00
  
Township of Marlboro
Improvements to Recreation Way Park – $255,000.00
  
Township of Manalapan
Manalapan Recreation Center Shelter Playground: Phase 2 – $255,500.00
  
Borough of Little Silver
Santelle Park Improvements - Phase 1 – $387,000.00
  
Township of Howell 
Pride Park Improvements – $350,000.00 
     
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.