Monmouth County Open Space Grant deadline Sept. 19

For Immediate Release:

September 11, 2007

$2 million is available for land

purchases and park improvements

FREEHOLD – The deadline is rapidly approaching for municipalities to apply for the 2007 Monmouth County Municipal Open Space Grant Program. This competitive grant program makes $2 million available for local open space purchases and park improvement projects.

The deadline for filing an application is 4 p.m. Sept. 19.

“I encourage all of our municipalities to submit their plans for open space acquisitions or park improvements,” said Freeholder Lillian G. Burry, liaison to the Monmouth County Park System. “This is a wonderful opportunity for towns to participate in a program that shares the costs of improving their local parks or acquiring more open space.”

The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders is soliciting applications in this fifth year of the program. All 53 Monmouth County municipalities are eligible to apply for funding awards. Applications were mailed to all Monmouth County municipalities in the spring. The grants are administered by the Monmouth County Park System and funded through the Monmouth County Open Space Trust Fund. Last year, 24 towns submitted requests for grants seeking a total of $2.7 million, of which the Board of Chosen Freeholders approved 14 applications and awarded $2 million in grants.

The deadline for submitting a grant application is 4 p.m. Sept. 19, and only complete applications will be considered for funding. Awards will be announced in December.

“Quality parks and open space contribute to the quality of life enjoyed by all Monmouth County residents,” Freeholder Burry said. “I hope we are able to acquire additional open space and expand recreation facilities throughout the county.”

Further information on the grant program can be found at the Monmouth County Park System’s Web site at www.monmouthcountyparks.com