The Municipal Park Improvement Program provides grants to municipal governments to supplement their efforts to improve municipal open space, park, and outdoor recreation facilities.
Donor Name: Bergen County Department of Parks
State: New Jersey
County: Bergen County (NJ)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/14/2023
Details:
The Municipal Park Improvement Program provides grant funding for the development and redevelopment of municipal parkland to increase or improve outdoor active and passive recreational activities. Any request for funding for the acquisition of land for recreational and conservation for municipal parks will be directed to the Trust Fund’s “County Program” funding category. Source of Funds The revenues for this program are obtained from the thirty (30%) of the funds raised from the Bergen County Open Space, Recreation, Floodplain Protection, Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund (“Trust Fund”).
Project Eligibility
- Activities eligible for funding include, in order of priority, projects that will support the increased public use or enjoyment of outdoor recreation land:
- Development of new parks that are for recreation and/or conservation purposes.
- Expansion or improvement of existing parks.
- Park development projects may include, and not limited to, for example:
- Construction of a facility for outdoor games and sports, winter sports, boating, picnicking, fishing, biking, walking and hiking, swimming, camping, nature and historic interpretation, or similar activities. Other permitted uses include lighting, lightening detection systems, parking if it supports an outdoor recreational or conservation facility.
- Activities ineligible for funding include:
- Fully enclosed structures, including but not limited to: restrooms or comfort stations, maintenance and storage structures, concession stands or other similar structures.
- Rehabilitation of a specific recreation facility or feature that was developed with Trust Fund funding fewer than 10 years before. An application may be eligible under this paragraph if the municipality can demonstrate that the restoration or rehabilitation is necessary due to normal wear and tear on the facility or feature and not to abuse, neglect or vandalism.
Specific Project Eligibility Requirements
- Projects are within the applicant’s jurisdiction and the applicant holds the rights to develop on the property.
- Municipality demonstrates the capacity to plan, implement and maintain the project (sufficient and qualified staff or contractor, effective administrative procedures and systems, evidence of past success, etc.).
- Projects are consistent with the Playground Safety Subcode for New Jersey (N.J.A.C. 5:23-11), the Barrier-Free Subcode for New Jersey (N.J.A.C. 5:23-7) and Americans with Disability Act and the appropriate minimum accessibility guidelines for new and altered facilities; as per the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board .Submit the necessary certifications to comply with the County of Bergen’s requirements for the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Projects must envision a minimum ten (10) year life span.
- Projects must be properly maintained to be in a safe and useable state for access by all members of the public.
- Municipality shall not take or permit any action, or fail to take any action that would be counter to or in violation of any federal or State regulatory or program laws or rules. Usage of the improved area shall be consistent with the policies of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Green Acres’ rules and regulations.
For more information, visit Municipal Park Improvement Program.
