Grants Programs

State Parks, through state and federal funding sources, provide a number of different grant opportunities. From historic preservation to playgrounds and from boating infrastructure to snowmobile trails, we provide grants to a variety of projects that promote recreation, preserve our historic and natural resources and generally improve the quality of life in communities throughout the state.

Please Note: OPRHP never requires a fee to apply for any of our grants.

Open Grant Opportunities

Funding Opportunity Application Period Opens Application Deadline Award Announcement
New York Places for Learning, Activity, and Youth Socialization (NY PLAYS) Initiative May 4, 2026 June 15, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. No Earlier Than August 3, 2026
Connect Kids to Parks Field Trip Grant Program February 27, 2025 Rolling basis, as funding is available. Rolling basis, as funding is available.
Connect Kids to Swimming Instruction Transportation Grant Program December 2024 Rolling basis, as funding is available. Rolling basis, as funding is available.
Snowmobile Trail Grant Program Phase 1: April 1;
Phase 2: June 1;
Phase 3: April 1		 Phase 1: June 1
Phase 2: September 1
Phase 3: May 31		 Visit program page for details.

State Funded Grant Programs

African American Heritage Grant Program
Opportunity Status: Closed
A grant program to assist nonprofit organizations and local governments in documenting, interpreting, and preserving places and stories of historical and cultural importance to the African American experience in New York from 1627-1975. 

A program connecting New York school-age children (pre-K through grade 12) with nature, outdoor recreation, and history by reimbursing transportation costs for field trips to eligible locations. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, in the order they’re received.

This program connects New York school-age children (pre-K through grade 12) with swimming instruction, by reimbursing transportation costs for travel to facilities in New York State that offer swim instruction through a nationally recognized learn to swim curriculum. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, in the order they’re received.

Environmental Protection Fund Grant Program for Parks, Preservation and Heritage (EPF)
Opportunity Status: Closed
A matching grant program for the acquisition, planning, development, and improvement of parks, historic properties, and heritage areas located within the physical boundaries of the State of New York.

Legislative Initiatives
Opportunity Status: By Prior Approval
A program for recipients pre-designated by the New York State Legislature. There are no applications for this program. If you have received an award letter packet referencing a "PKS-..." number, please read the Guidelines and get in touch with your Regional Grants Administrator.
 

Municipal Parks and Recreation Grant Program (MPR)
Opportunity Status: Closed
A matching grant program to develop new municipal parks and to improve natural, ecological, cultural, and recreational resources within existing municipal parks. Funds are available to municipalities who have fee ownership of the municipal parkland being improved.

A matching capital grant program for the acquisition, design, construction, major renovation, and equipping of Community Centers in communities across New York State.

A matching capital grant program that supports the design, construction, and renovation of public playgrounds across New York State.

A matching capital grant program to acquire, design, construct, rehabilitate or improve swimming facilities and natural swimming areas in underserved communities across New York State.

Snowmobile Trail Grant Program
Opportunity Status: Open

A grant program that allocates funds to local governments that engage in the development and maintenance of snowmobile trails designated as part of the State Snowmobile Trail System. Funding is allocated on a prorated basis.

Zoos, Botanical Gardens and Aquaria Capital Grant Program (ZBGA Cap)
Opportunity Status: Closed
A program available for eligible local governments and not-for-profit organizations to undertake strategic capital improvements to their ZBGA facilities.

Zoos, Botanical Gardens and Aquaria Operational Support Grant Program (ZBGA OS)
Opportunity Status: Closed
A program for the funding of collections care or special projects at municipal or not-for-profit institutions that house, care for and interpret for the public, systematically organized collections of living things.

 

Federally Funded Programs

Boating Infrastructure Grant Program 
Opportunity Status: Closed
A program of the Department of the Interior, US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Certified Local Government Program
Opportunity Status: Closed

A matching grant program for the expansion and maintenance of the National Register of Historic Places and support of historic preservation activities, to include survey and inventory. Only Certified Local Governments may apply.

LWCF Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program
Opportunity Status: Closed
This federal, nation-wide, urban-focused grant program is targeted at projects that will create or reinvigorate parks and other outdoor recreation spaces to encourage people to connect or re-connect with the outdoors.

Maritime Heritage Subgrant Program
Opportunity Status: Closed
A matching subgrant program to fund education and historic preservation projects that will preserve sites and objects related to New York’s maritime history.

Recreational Trails Program
Opportunity Status: Closed
A matching grant program for the acquisition, development, rehabilitation and maintenance of trails and trail-related facilities.

Trails Education Funding
Opportunity Status: Closed
A matching grant program for trail-related educational projects to promote safety and environmental protection, including non-law enforcement trail safety monitoring programs, and trail-related training.