Federal agencies, state programs, and foundations provide grants supporting community gardens, urban agriculture, food security programs, and nutrition education. These grants fund nonprofits, schools, municipalities, and community organizations developing gardens that improve food access, build community, and promote health. Below are 1 verified funding opportunities for community garden projects.
Establishing new community gardens including site preparation, soil improvement, raised beds, irrigation systems, fencing, tool sheds, signage, and initial supplies. Transform vacant lots into productive green spaces.
Urban farming operations, market gardens, food production hubs, aquaponics systems, greenhouse installations, composting facilities, and commercial-scale urban farms selling produce to communities.
Programs increasing healthy food access in underserved neighborhoods, produce distribution, food deserts mitigation, nutrition education, cooking classes, and farm-to-table initiatives.
School gardens, youth gardening programs, nutrition education, agricultural literacy, STEM learning through gardening, culinary training, and community education workshops on sustainable food production.
The primary federal program for park development and land acquisition. Administered by National Park Service through state liaison officers. Requires 50% non-federal match. Funds park acquisition, development, and major renovations. Annual state allocations support local park projects.
Flexible HUD funding for community facilities including parks in low-income areas. Localities can allocate CDBG funds for park improvements, playground equipment, accessibility upgrades, and recreation facility construction serving primarily low-to-moderate income residents.
Competitive LWCF program specifically for creating new parks or major park renovations in economically disadvantaged urban areas. Awards $750,000-$5 million per project. Prioritizes underserved communities, climate adaptation, and economic revitalization through parks.
National Park Service technical assistance program supporting community-led park, trail, and greenway projects. Provides free planning expertise, no grant funds, but helps secure other funding. Ideal for project planning and design phases.
These grants support park development and improvement projects. Contact your state LWCF liaison office or park funding agency for application assistance and guidance.
An award under an eligible federal Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for a project that meets the requirements of this solicitation, or Subsequent funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to c...
LWCF is the nation's primary federal program for park and recreation funding, established in 1965. It's funded by offshore oil and gas royalties (not taxpayer dollars). The state-side program provides matching grants (50% federal, 50% local) to states and local governments for park acquisition and development. Each state has a State Liaison Officer who administers LWCF grants and sets state-specific priorities and deadlines.
Most federal programs require matches. LWCF requires 50% non-federal match (can be cash, land value, or in-kind services). Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership requires 50% match. CDBG generally doesn't require match. State programs vary—some require 25-50% match, others have no match requirement. In-kind contributions can include donated land, volunteer labor (at fair market value), materials, and professional services.
Property acquired or developed with LWCF funds is protected in perpetuity for public outdoor recreation use. Any conversion to non-recreation use requires National Park Service approval and replacement with land of equal or greater fair market value and recreation utility. This ensures parkland protection forever. It's a serious commitment—understand 6(f)(3) restrictions before accepting LWCF funds. Violations can result in fund repayment and loss of future eligibility.
Limited access for nonprofits. LWCF stateside grants go only to state and local governments—nonprofits cannot apply directly (but can partner with eligible applicants). Some state park grant programs allow 501(c)(3) nonprofit applicants, especially land trusts for conservation acquisition. Private foundation grants (not federal) often fund nonprofit park projects. Check eligibility carefully—most major federal park programs require governmental applicant status.
Very competitive. LWCF stateside funding is limited and state liaison offices receive more applications than available funding. Typical award rates vary by state (20-50% of applications funded). Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership is extremely competitive (10-15 awards nationally from 100+ applications). Strengthen applications with: comprehensive master plans, strong community support, disadvantaged community focus, matching funds exceeding minimums, ADA accessibility, climate resilience, and documented need (park-poor areas, population density, health indicators).
Long lead times required. Application development: 6-12 months (site selection, design, environmental review, cost estimates, matching funds). Grant review: 3-6 months after deadline. Project implementation: 2-4 years from award (design, permitting, bidding, construction). LWCF requires project completion within 3 years of award. Total timeline from initial planning to ribbon-cutting ceremony: 4-7 years typically. Start planning early and allow ample time for each phase.
Federal LWCF program information, state liaison office contacts, application guidance, and conversion requirements. Essential starting point for understanding LWCF eligibility and processes.
Each state designates an LWCF liaison (usually within state parks or recreation department). They set state priorities, deadlines, scoring criteria, and administer grants. Contact your state liaison before applying—requirements vary significantly by state.
Professional association providing park grant resources, webinars, best practices, and advocacy. Excellent training for park grant writing, project management, and trends in park development. NRPA Conference offers grant workshops annually.
National nonprofit conserving land for people. ParkScore index measures park access by city. ParkServe mapping tool identifies park-poor neighborhoods. Useful for documenting community need in grant applications.
Explore our complete database of 4230 federal, state, and local grants to find funding opportunities for your park development or improvement project.
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