Community Parks and Playgrounds (CPP) Program
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. What is the Community Parks and Playgrounds (CPP) program?
The CPP program provides grant funding assistance to restore existing park and green space systems and create new park and green space systems in the municipal corporations of the state and Baltimore City.
Q. Who administers the CPP program?
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Program Open Space (POS) Local, administers the CPP program. Local grants staff prepare and distribute application materials to local governments, and if necessary, conduct grant writing workshops to assist local governments in documenting need and meeting program criteria.
Grant applications are evaluated by staff and recommendations for grant selections are provided to the Secretary of DNR for possible inclusion in the Governor's budget. Following a State Clearinghouse review, the department submits the selected grants to the Board of Public Works (BPW) for approval.
Q. Who is eligible to apply for the CPP grant?
Only governing bodies of municipal corporations and Baltimore City are eligible to apply for the CPP grant.
Applicants should be able to demonstrate the capacity to plan, implement, and maintain the project (sufficient and qualified staff or contractor, effective administrative procedures and systems, evidence of past success, etc.)
Q. Can our homeowners association (HOA) or nonprofit organization apply for the CPP grant?
No, HOAs and nonprofit organizations cannot directly apply for the CPP grant. If the potential project is located within the boundaries of a municipal corporation of the state or Baltimore City, the HOA or nonprofit organization may partner with the municipality in project sponsorship and implementation. Note that the project must be open and available to all users, not just the residents of the HOA or any specific interest group.
Q. Can the potential project take place on property not owned by the municipal corporation?
Yes, if the project is within the municipal corporation’s jurisdiction and the municipality hold the rights to develop on the property. The rights may be in the form of an easement, a long term lease with more than 20 years remaining in the term and no termination for convenience clause, or a project-specific Joint Use Agreement. Review and verification of these documents will be necessary in order to determine their applicability. Please contact the Local Grants Administrator for your area for further assistance prior to submitting your application.
Q. What types of projects are eligible for the CPP grant?
CPP grants may fund projects to develop new parks; rehabilitate, expand, or improve existing parks; purchase and install new playground equipment; develop environmentally oriented parks and recreation areas; develop new trails or extend existing trails; create access points to water recreation resources; or purchase land to create new parks. Projects must be open and available to all users. Projects to replace existing facilities previously funded with a state grant from Program Open Space (POS) Local or CPP programs may be eligible only after the 20 years for those grant requirements have passed, or after 15 years for a project funded with a Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure (LPPI) grant. Please contact the Local Grants Administrator for your area to confirm your project’s eligibility.
Q. We have an existing park / playground. Can we ask for grant funds to maintain the park / playground?
No, CPP grants are capital funds and cannot be used for operating and maintenance costs.
Q. We want to install an inclusive playground. What do we have to consider?
Inclusive playgrounds welcome everyone to participate. It must have four (4) important characteristics:
- They can be used by everyone (accessible);
- They meet needs of different people (adaptive);
- They encourage people to come together to play and learn (welcoming); and
- They make people feel good when they are there (promote feelings of emotional well-being).
Please consult this Framework and Toolkit for Inclusive Playgrounds in Maryland put together by The Maryland Department of Disabilities and the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council for more information:
https://www.md-council.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MDDC_InclusivePlaygroundsInMaryland.pdf
Q. Is there a minimum or maximum grant amount we can request?
While there is no established minimum or maximum grant amounts, keep in mind that this is a competitive grant and the available funds must be awarded to projects across the state. The grant funds requested should be for a capital project for park facilities or elements that will last for a minimum of 20 years.
Q. Can we include contingency costs in our project estimates?
No, contingency costs or similar reserves are not eligible costs and should not be included as a line item in the itemized detailed cost estimate.
Q. Do we need to provide a local match for the grant?
No, CPP grants can fund up to 100% of the proposed project. Local matching funds are welcome, but not required.
Q. We want to do a large project and may need multiple fund sources to accomplish this work. Can we apply for Program Open Space (POS) Local funds and/or other grants in addition to the CPP grant?
Yes, but keep in mind that CPP is a competitive grant so funding is not guaranteed. Also, CPP grants are for prospective projects so the project cannot have already been started prior to the funds being awarded. If the applicant is also using POS Local or other grants for this project, local matching funds may be required based on the total project cost given the POS Local grant requirement. Please contact the Local Grants Administrator for your area for further assistance prior to submitting your application.
Q. How long does a CPP project have to last?
Development projects must have a minimum 20 year life span. The grant recipient is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the project for public use for this time period. Acquisition projects must be maintained in perpetuity.
Q. How are grants awarded?
Awards are competitive in nature. Program staff will review complete application submissions. Projects will be evaluated based on: consistency with Community Parks and Playground Program’s purpose, eligibility requirements and criteria, as well as the applicant’s project detail responses.
Q. We submitted our application some time ago. When do we find out if we were awarded the grant?
For project applications submitted in August of any calendar year, the applicant will be notified by May of the following calendar year whether their project was included in the upcoming fiscal year’s budget for funding. For example, for the applications that were due in August 2023, the applicants were notified in May 2024 whether their project was included in the fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget. The project application will still have to be processed through State Clearinghouse review and the project approved by the Board of Public Works (BPW) before the funds may be encumbered for the project. After BPW approval, the grant recipient will be notified of the grant award.
Q. We were notified that our project was selected for CPP funding. When do we get the money?
Projects selected for CPP funding will still have to be processed through State Clearinghouse review and the project approved by the Board of Public Works (BPW) before the funds may be encumbered for the project. Since CPP is a reimbursable grant program, the grant recipient will have to pay for any costs incurred upfront before reimbursement of those costs can be made.
Q. We are a small municipality with limited cash flow. Can we get an advanced payment for a deposit to our vendor to get our project started?
Since CPP is a reimbursable grant program, the grant recipient will have to pay for any costs incurred upfront before reimbursement of those costs can be made. Partial project reimbursements are permitted which can help with cash flow. An advance of program funds to cover a portion of the anticipated allowable costs may be considered, but the project must be completed as proposed and all costs and payments documented before the final reimbursement is made. Please contact the Local Grants Administrator for your area for further assistance.
Q. Can we make a change to the scope of our project after it has been selected for funding?
Since CPP is a competitive grant, selected projects must be completed as proposed at the location stated in the application. Considerations may be made for minor changes that would not affect the overall scope of the project. Substantive changes would not be approved and associated costs may not be reimbursed. Please contact the Local Grants Administrator for your area for further assistance.
Q. Can we make a change to the amount requested for our project after it has been selected for funding, such as adjusting for inflation?
Applicants should make the best effort to provide a realistic cost estimate for the project proposed and not rely on general estimates or contingency costs for their budget. Since CPP is a competitive grant where all available funds are awarded to a number of projects, there would not be additional funds available for contingency or inflationary factors after selection. Please contact the Local Grants Administrator for your area for further assistance.
Q. Can we use the remaining funds in our grant for another project?
CPP grant funds must be used for the project as approved by the Board of Public Works. If all the elements as proposed have been completed and there are funds remaining in the grant, additional elements consistent with the approved project may be added at the same location. However, the remaining funds may not be used for a different project or at another location and must be reverted back to the CPP program. Please contact the Local Grants Administrator for your area for further assistance.
Grant Proposal Process
Contacts – Who to Call
