FREEHOLD – Monmouth County has $2 million available for the creation or expansion of local park facilities.
The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders is once again soliciting applications from municipalities who would like to contend for a share of the available funds in the Monmouth County Municipal Open Space Grant Program.
Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry, liaison to the Monmouth County Park System, encouraged all 53 municipalities in the county to submit their plans for park improvements or open space acquisitions.
"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," Burry said.
Applications for the latest round of grants have been mailed to all Monmouth County municipalities. The deadline for submitting a grant application is 4 p.m. September 17, and only complete applications will be considered for funding.
Grant awards will be announced in December 2008. The grants, part of a competitive matching-funds program for municipalities, are administered by the Monmouth County Park System and funded through the Monmouth County Open Space Trust Fund.
Last year, 20 towns successfully submitted requests for grants seeking a total of $3.9 million, of which the Board of Chosen Freeholders approved 11 applications and awarded $2 million in grants.
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.
Further information on the grant program can be found at the Monmouth County Park System’s Web site at www.monmouthcountyparks.com or by calling 732-842-4000,