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. Please check the website for the updated manual and application in February 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 2025 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
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, 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.