ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Communities across Maryland are now eligible to apply for new federal grants through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
According to a June 22 press release, the National Park Service announced new grants for parkland acquisition and development of recreational amenities. Towns and counties across Maryland will be eligible for the grants.
The two new grants are:
- The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program: Provides 50/50 matching grants for park projects in urban areas with a population of 25,000 or more, with a preference for projects in low-income communities. Grants range from $300,000 to $15 million, and project applications are due to the state by Sept. 1, 2026.
- The Readiness and Recreation Initiative: Provides 50/50 matching grants for projects that include an acquisition component and that enhance recreational opportunities in sentinel landscapes or Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) opportunity areas. Grants range from $250,000 to $3 million, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Interested applicants can submit materials or questions to Molly Pickel at molly.pickel@maryland.gov.
Communities in Southern Maryland frequently apply for grants through state and federal programs to help with capital improvement projects. For example, Calvert County applies annually to Project Open Space, an ongoing local-state initiative funded by property transfer taxes to acquire land for conservation and develop outdoor recreation facilities.
Learn more about these grants and other opportunities on the DNR and National Park Service websites.
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