County Solicits Open Space Grant Applications

Monday, 01 June 2009 10:01

Newsbrief - Monmouth County

All Monmouth towns are eligible to apply by Sept. 23

FREEHOLD, NJ - The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders is once again soliciting applications from municipalities wishing to compete for a share of $2 million from the Monmouth County Municipal Open Space Grant Program to create or expand local park facilities.

Applications for the latest round of grants have been mailed to all 53 Monmouth County municipalities. The deadline for submitting a grant application is 4 p.m. Sept. 23, and only complete applications will be considered for funding. Grant awards will be announced in December 2009.

The grants, part of a competitive matching-funds program for municipalities, are administered by the county Park System and funded through the Monmouth County Open Space Trust Fund.

"This is an excellent way for towns and the county to partner in providing recreation and open space to benefit our residents and the environment," said Freeholder Lillian G. Burry, liaison to the Monmouth County Park System. "Quality parks and open space contribute positively to the quality of life here in Monmouth County. I encourage all of our municipalities to submit their plans for park improvements or open space acquisitions."

All 53 Monmouth County municipalities are eligible to apply for funding awards. Last year, 24 towns successfully submitted requests for grants seeking a total of $4.5 million, of which the Board of Chosen Freeholders approved 14 applications and awarded $2 million in grants.

"The freeholders are proud to be a part of successful municipal park projects," Burry said. "Last year Upper Freehold and Allentown worked together to secure funding for a regional acquisition project and Manasquan and Keyport each sought funding for park improvement projects."

Further information on the grant program can be found on the County Web site at www.visitmonmouth.com and clicking on the link to the Monmouth County Park System or by calling 732-842-4000, ext. 4472.

In November 2002, Monmouth County voters approved expansion of the existing County Open Space Trust Fund to include monies for cooperative projects with municipalities within the county.  The Board of Chosen Freeholders formally established the program in 2003 and began allocating $2 million annually to municipalities.

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