Parks Grants List
DTSC: Equitable Community Revitalization Grant (ECRG)
Deadline: October 2025 (est.)
Amount: $85 million available
Match: TBD
Link: https://dtsc.ca.gov/ecrg/
Purpose: The program gives California communities an unprecedented opportunity to address historic environmental injustices and set a new path for land use that will have immediate and lasting benefits, such as recreational uses (parks and other green spaces), commercial enterprises and housing.
1. Community-wide Assessment Grant ($350k*): First steps or early stages to learn about environmental conditions of at least three sites in a defined area where reuse is being planned. Activities may include Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, Phase II Environmental Site Assessments or Preliminary Endangerment Assessments, and may also include community engagement for sites being assessed/investigated. In addition to assessment or investigation, activities may also include developing an inventory of brownfield sites, including GIS mapping, and other activities that will facilitate reuse planning.
*Funding: Fixed amount of $350,000, which may include up to $50,000 for CWA-related activities conducted by grantee, such as community engagement.
2. Site-specific Investigation Grant ($150k to $7M): and/or cleanup planning at a specific site that is slated for reuse. Work includes All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI) or Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, Preliminary Endangerment Assessments (PEA), supplemental or other necessary site investigations, health and ecological risk assessments, work to evaluate different cleanup methods, pilot tests to assess a potential remedial technology, and preparation of a cleanup plan.
3. Site-specific Cleanup Grant ($300k to $10M): This includes planning, implementation and reporting costs for the cleanup, pilot tests and sampling/analysis to design the cleanup, public engagement and cleanup-related California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) activities. A regulatory-approved cleanup plan is highly recommended for a Site-specific Cleanup Application.
California Department of Parks and Recreation: Outdoor Equity Grant Program (Round 2) Due: December 2024 (est.)
Match: No.
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30443
The Outdoor Equity Grants Program (OEP) will increase the ability of residents in low income urban and rural communities to participate in outdoor experiences at state parks and other public lands. OEP grants will improve the health and wellness of Californians by connecting underserved communities to natural areas throughout California.
By Spring 2023, a draft Application Guide for Round Two will be posted here for public review and comment. The Round Two application deadline will be announced after the Application Guide goes through a public review and comment period.
Cal Parks: Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP)
Deadline: January 2025
Amount: Maximum: $15 million per application, Minimum: $300,000 per application Match: 50%
Eligibility: Cities, Counties, State agencies, Federally recognized Native American Tribes Joint Powers Authorities where all members are otherwise eligible under LWCF. Park districts, and special districts with authority to acquire, operate and maintain public park and recreation areas
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30578
ORLP focuses on communities with little to no access to publicly available outdoor recreation
opportunities. ORLP funds the acquisition and/or development of new parks, or substantial renovations to parks in economically disadvantaged cities or towns of at least 30,000 people.
● Projects must be located in incorporated cities and towns with at least 30,000 people. ● Projects must be located within a Census tract that is determined to be disadvantaged per the Climate and Environmental Justice Screening Tool at https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov. ● Projects must involve land acquisition or development for outdoor recreation. ● Projects must be outdoor recreation areas and facilities open to the general public and not limited to special groups.
● Projects cannot be within a park/site that has LWCF or ORLP grant funding within the last seven years.
California Department of Parks and Recreation: Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)
Deadline: June 1, 2025
Amount: Up to $6 million
Match: Yes - 50%
Eligibility: Cities, counties, tribal governments, JPAs, park districts, and special districts with authority to acquire, operate and maintain public park and recreation areas
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=21360
Project must be acquisition or development, combination projects are not eligible. Development of recreation features must be for outdoor recreation, not indoor recreation. See the list of recreation features in the application guide.
California Department of Parks and Recreation: Recreational Trails Program Deadline: July, 2025
Amount: Up to $1.56 million
Match: Yes - 12%
Eligibility: Cities, counties, districts, state agencies, federal agencies and nonprofits with management responsibilities of public lands
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=24324
The non-motorized RTP funds recreation trail projects for pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrians that may also serve as non-motorized transportation corridors.
California Department of Parks and Recreation: Habitat Conservation Fund Deadline: June 15, 2025
Match: Yes - 1:1
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=21361
Purpose: Nature interpretation programs to bring urban residents into park and wildlife areas, protection of various plant and animal species, and acquisition and development of wildlife corridors and trails.
California Natural Resources Agency: Youth Community Access Grant Program Deadline: August 2025
Amount: $25,000 to $500,000
Eligibility: Local, state, and federal agencies; nonprofit organizations; and federally recognized Native American tribes. Eligible projects must serve youth and directly support access to either natural or cultural resources AND meet the criteria for both low-income AND disadvantaged (not one or the other) communities. (See guidelines for criteria details)
URL: https://resources.ca.gov/grants/youth?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery Summary: Programs such as the Youth Community Access grant program help advance Outdoor for All,
CNRA’s initiative that is expanding parks and outdoors spaces in communities that need them the most, supporting programs to connect people who lack access, fostering a sense of belonging for all Californians in the outdoors, and much more.
To be eligible for funding, projects must meet ALL the following program requirements: 1. Projects must serve youth. For the purposes of this program, youth is defined as a person between the ages of birth and 26 years old. 2. Projects must directly support youth access to either natural or cultural resources. 3. Projects must include design features and program elements to promote youth health, safety, well-being, and comfort.
Parks California: Route to Parks Grant
Due Date: August 2025
Amount: Parks California anticipates awarding
approximately $1,000,000 with awards averaging $25,000 - 30,000 per grantee.
Match Requirements: No
Eligibility:
● 501(c)3 Organizations
● California Native American Tribes (inclusive of federally and non-federally recognized tribes)
● Native 7871 Organizations
● Fiscally sponsored Community Organizations
● Government Agencies
Link: Route to Parks Grants
Summary:
● Primarily provide transportation to/from California State Parks and beaches; ● Offer a valuable recreational, environmental, cultural, or historical learning experiences; ● Reach underrepresented communities who may face challenges getting to or enjoying parks, and/or lack opportunities to create meaningful connections to nature;
● Address parts of the state with the greatest transportation needs.
Preference will be given to proposals that:
● Include programming and/or experiences at California State Parks that connect people to inland waterways, lakes, rivers, watersheds, and water systems;
● Deliver memorable experiences in nature through collaboration with other stakeholders to build expertise and deliver programs that they alone would not be able to provide; ● Provide participants with multiple meaningful outdoor experiences in parks; ● Strengthen collaboration and partnership with California State Parks;
● Have an innovative and relevant transportation approach for participants.