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.
Monmouth County Municipal Park Improvement Grant Program applications will be due Thursday, July 10, 2025, and are expected to be awarded in October. The Municipal Park Improvement Grant Program is a competitive program. The project eligibility and evaluation criteria are described in the Policy and Procedures Manual.
The 2025 grant program application and manual will be posted on this website in February 2025. The 2024 application and manual remain available below for your reference until the 2025 application and manual are posted.
The Board of County Commissioners selected the following projects for 2024 funding:
Aberdeen Township
Fireman’s Park Improvements - $475,000
Allenhurst
Lake Drive Park Improvements - $400,000
Brielle
Brielle Park Improvements - $150,000
Eatontown
Fresh Start 80 Acres Park Improvements – Phase II - $150,000
Freehold Borough
Freehold Park Improvements - $475,000
Hazlet
Recreation Building with Multipurpose Courts - $475,000
Highlands
Frank Hall Park Improvements - $86,000
Holmdel
Sports Court Lighting Improvements - $175,000
Keansburg
Collins Field Improvements - $75,000
Lake Como
Behrman Park Improvements – Phase II - $130,000
Little Silver
Sickles Park Inclusive Playground - $399,000
Long Branch
City Hall Park Improvements - $475,000
Marlboro
Tennent Road Walking Trail - $215,000
Millstone Township
Millstone Park Improvements – Phase III - $475,000
Neptune Township
Loffredo Fields Improvements – Phase II - $358,000
Oceanport
Maria Gata Park Improvements – Phase IV - $475,000
Spring Lake Heights
Joseph E. Robertson Park Pickleball Courts - $100,000
Tinton Falls
Walz Park Improvements - $475,000
Red Bank
Marine Park Improvements - $475,000
Union Beach
Scholer Park Improvements – Phase X - $300,000
West Long Branch
Valenzano Park Improvements - $150,000
Grant Closeout Documents for Park Development Projects:
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, Acquisition and Design Office, 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, Acquisition and Design Office, 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.