The Local Recreation Improvement Grant is a competitive grant that supports improvement and repair of public school recreational facilities including local parks, municipal recreation centers, and local stadiums.
Donor Name: New Jersey Department of Community Affairs
State: New Jersey
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 01/31/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Ensuring public access to community facilities is imperative given access to outdoor recreation and community resources is critical for mental and physical health, particularly for those residents with limited or no other access to quality outdoor space or private recreational opportunities. The Local Recreation Improvement Grant will allocate funds to update facilities and recreational spaces to meet this statewide need.
Local Recreation Improvement Grant funds will be allocated to each grant recipient to help cover costs associated with updating community centers, playgrounds, pools, fields, walking or bicycle trails, rail trails, multi-sport courts, and recreational facilities; project development professional services costs; equipment costs including playground and recreation facilities equipment; and environmental remediation costs required to prepare recreation sites for use.
The Local Recreation Improvement Grant (LRIG) exists to:
- Fund improvements to recreational facilities
- Provide quality outdoor recreational space to underserved communities, particularly in this time of heightened need
- Assist local units in achieving unmet recreational obligations
- Equipment (example: cost of playgrounds or stadium or community theatre bleachers)
- Remediation costs associated with preparing recreation sites for use
- Other directly related costs.
Funding Information
The Governor has appropriated $20 million in the FY2025 Local Recreation Improvement Grant budget. A recommended maximum award of $100,000 shall govern; however, awards in excess of the cap may be authorized if warranted and depending upon program demand.
Eligibility Criteria
New Jersey counties, municipalities, and school districts are eligible to apply.
Project Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for Local Recreation Improvement Grant funding, each eligible applicant must:
- Describe the intended use of grant funding for improvement or repair of a specific local recreation site and identify any previously encountered obstacles to repair or improve.
- Demonstrate the applicant’s capacity to complete the proposed project and provide project management and oversight for all activities and fiscal operations.
- List key personnel and/or the outside consultant that will be managing the grant funds and proposed project.
- Provide a cost breakdown to allow DLGS to prioritize the costs and consider partial funding.
- Submit a governing body resolution acknowledging and approving any grant application and the proposed plan or design for the recreation space or community facility for which funding is sought. Including and accepting grant award in the same resolutions will expedite execution of a grant should one be awarded.
- Certify that the property where improvements will be made is owned by the county, municipality, or school district.
For more information, visit DCA.
