$250,000 Outdoor Recreation Grant Available for Your Community

Widseth can help you apply for an Outdoor Recreation Grant from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to improve your facilities. Keep reading to learn more about the program, find out if you're eligible, and when applications are due.

1. Program & Description

Outdoor Recreation Grant Program

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

The Outdoor Recreation Grant Program helps to increase and enhance outdoor recreation facilities in local and community parks throughout Minnesota.  

2. Eligibility

Eligible applicants: cities, counties, and townships.

Eligible projects: Park acquisition and/or development/redevelopment including internal park trails, picnic shelters, playgrounds, athletic facilities, boat accesses, fishing piers, swimming beaches, and campgrounds. All park projects must be maintained for outdoor recreation into perpetuity.

Project proposals must include at least one of the eligible primary outdoor recreation facilities listed in the Program Manual and have a total project cost of at least $20,000. Support facilities such as restrooms and parking lots can only be funded as part of a larger project that includes a primary recreation facility. Land proposed for development and/or redevelopment must be owned by the applicant or be part of an acquisition project.

3. Type of Funding

Grants are reimbursed based up to 50 percent of the total eligible costs. The maximum grant award is $250,000. The local share can consist of cash or the value of materials, labor, and equipment use by the local sponsor or by donations or any combination thereof. Costs must be incurred and paid for before reimbursement can be made. Applicants can apply for more than one park and may receive more than one grant. Significant progress must be completed on active projects before an additional proposal can be submitted. 

4. Application Process & Deadline

The completed application is due March 31, 2021.

• 2021 Outdoor recreation grant application
• 2021 Outdoor recreation program manual

The Department of Natural Resources will review and rank applications during the spring of 2021. Preliminary grant awards will be announced in the summer of 2021.