Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio has announced that the Board of Chosen Freeholder’s has approved for another five million dollars in county grants to be awarded to municipalities to assist in the creation and improvement of local outdoor recreation facilities.
This will be the fifth year in which such grants– which have been used to build and improve local parks, trails, ball fields and other recreational facilities — have been allocated as part of the county’s municipal park development program.
“When we created this program our goals were to assist the municipalities, all of which had been hit hard by the struggling economy, and to allow those towns that pay the farmland preservation and open space tax but that do not have farmland to preserve to participate in the program in a meaningful way” Garganio said. “To date we have awarded nearly $20 million dollars and the worthwhile projects these awards have facilitated are visible throughout the county, we look forward to the new opportunities that this year’s grants will offer to our townships.”
Using funds from the County’s Municipal Park Development Program:
Mount Laurel created a community garden to give their residents an opportunity to experience gardening by providing small plots to plant flowers or vegetables.
Hainesport created new trails that connect to already established County trails, working toward a county wide regional trail system along the Rancocas Creek.
Woodland Township built their first youth baseball and softball fields.
Cinnaminson built restroom facilities at their Wood Park, allowing them to hold youth sports tournaments and large-scale town events.
Springfield Township created bike trails for their residents.
Bordentown Township added a Tot Lot and hockey rink to their recreational area, as well as improving existing tennis and basketball courts.
Burlington Township replaced a street hockey court and improved existing basketball and tennis courts, along with various other improvements to local active recreational facilities.
Delran built athletic fields at Myers Tract Park, including a field specifically for handicapped individuals.
The grant program is funded through the county’s dedicated Open Space, Recreation, Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund. As in past years, $5 million has been allocated from this fund to be divided amongst the townships that apply.
No municipal cost share or “match” is required to receive this grant funding. However, the funding is exclusively for hard costs, such as construction and repair of facilities, and not for the purchase of equipment or for operational and maintenance costs. Funds may be applied to the acquisition of recreational land.
Grant applications will be accepted from through June 13. Applications can be submitted by mail and will be posted on the Burlington County website.
