Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. What is the Greenspace Equity Program?

The Greenspace Equity Program provides grant funding assistance to eligible applicants for enhancing the public health and livability of overburdened communities and underserved communities by implementing projects to preserve, create, and enhance public greenspace.

Q. What are overburdened communities and underserved communities?

An overburdened community means any census tract for which three or more of the environmental health indicators listed in §1–701(a)(7) of the Environmental Article are above the 75th percentile statewide.

An underserved community means any census tract in which, according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau Survey, meets one or more of the indicators listed in §1–701(a)(8) of the Environmental Article.

Please see Environment Article §1-701 for the specific indicators.

Q. Where are the overburdened communities and underserved communities located?

Use the Greenspace Equity Viewer to determine whether a property is located in an overburdened community or an underserved community by entering the address in the search field. Qualifying census tracts are identified by the different color-coded labels.

Q. Who is eligible to apply for the Greenspace Equity grant?

• A Land Trust located or working in an overburdened community or an underserved community where a project is proposed to be implemented.
• A Nongovernmental Organization located or working in an overburdened community or an underserved community where a project is proposed to be implemented.
• County Government.
• Municipal Government.
• Under the Greenspace Equity legislation, a Land Trust is defined as one of the following:
• A qualified organization under §170(H)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and any regulations adopted under that section;
• An organization that has executed a cooperative agreement with the Maryland Environmental Trust (MET); or
• An organization that is an Affordable Housing Land Trust as defined in §14-501 of the Real Property Article.
• Nongovernmental Organizations that are not Land Trusts are not eligible for acquisition projects.
• Land Trusts and Nongovernmental Organizations must be in good standing.
• Land Trusts and Nongovernmental Organizations are encouraged to work with County and/or Municipal governments to implement the project.

Q. What types of projects are eligible for the Greenspace Equity grant?

• Acquisition of land in fee simple or the acquisition of a perpetual conservation easement to create a new community greenspace.
• Stewardship activities (defined as activities to develop a property for public use and improve the conservation value of a property). This includes the development of a community greenspace, such as:
• a community garden;
• a community gathering open space area;
• a community woodland;
• a green network or system of greenspaces that are interconnected by linear corridors that facilitate the movement of people and wildlife;
• a park;
• a trail; or
• an urban farm.

Q. As an eligible Land Trust, can we acquire land in fee simple or a perpetual conservation easement and hold title on our own?

For acquisition projects where the lead applicant is an eligible Land Trust, it is recommended that the Land Trust not hold exclusive title to the real property interest. The Land Trust should consider co-holding the fee simple deed or perpetual conservation easement with a county or municipal government agency where the project is located. This recommendation is based on practice similar to other state land conservation programs.

If the Land Trust is unable to co-hold the fee simple deed or perpetual conservation easement with a county or municipal government where the project is located, the Land Trust can acquire land in fee simple and conservation easements and hold title alone. However, in such an event, the Land Trust must include organizing documents and/or other information in the application outlining the steps that would be taken to provide for the continuing protection of the property in the event the Land Trust ceases to exist or can no longer own or manage the property, or steward and administer the easement, including how the real property interest would be transferred to another eligible entity upon a dissolution or succession event.

Q. As a nongovernmental organization, can we acquire land for our project?

Nongovernmental organizations that are not eligible Land Trusts are not eligible to acquire real property interest using Greenspace Equity funds.

Q. Can a Greenspace Equity project only take place on a census tract that is an overburdened community and/or an underserved community?

No, Greenspace Equity funding may also be used for a project on a property for which an eligible applicant holds a conservation easement or owns the property in fee simple that is located in a census tract that is adjacent to an overburdened community or an underserved community.

Q. What are eligible project costs?

• Cost of acquiring the land in fee simple or a perpetual conservation easement.
• Related due diligence expenses, such as appraisals, environmental assessments, surveys, title work, etc.
• Cost of clearing the site or developing it for use as community greenspace.
• Administrative costs not to exceed 3% of the grant amount.
• Program compliance costs for monitoring easements, if applicable, not to exceed 1.5% of the total project cost.

Greenspace Equity funds may not be used for maintenance costs associated with a project or the operation expenses of the grant recipient.

Q. What are administrative costs?

Administrative costs are associated with actual time spent working on a project, such as negotiating with landowners, site visits to the property, working with title attorneys/appraisers/surveyors/lawyers, preparing documents, and implementing a project, etc. A portion of the grant, not to exceed three percent (3%) of the grant amount, may be used for administrative costs. These costs must be documented and related to the approved project to be eligible for reimbursement.

Q. What are program compliance costs?

Program compliance costs are associated with monitoring easements. A portion of the grant, not to exceed one and a half percent (1.5%) of the grant amount, may be used to pay for program costs for monitoring easements. Applicants must document that program compliance costs will be placed in an endowment or other special account to be made available only to the grantee and only for the purpose of monitoring the specific easement acquired with Greenspace Equity funds. The program compliance costs for easement monitoring must be invested in a long-term managed investment account, the principal of which may not be withdrawn or used without the approval of DNR. The funds cannot be used as collateral. The interest funds may be used by the grantee to pay for salaries and supplies for monitoring costs. Failure of the grantee to adequately monitor this easement may cause for reassignment to a successor organization to carry out the monitoring responsibilities for the easement, and the repayment and/or transfer of the program compliance fee accordingly.

Q. What is the difference between stewardship, maintenance, and operating costs?

“Stewardship” under the Greenspace Equity Program is defined as activities undertaken to develop a property for public use and improve the conservation value of a property. This would include the capital improvement of a property to create a viable public community greenspace, such as establishing a new park or trail, or constructing a new community garden or community gathering open space area. Costs related to the stewardship or development projects are eligible for the Greenspace Equity grant.

Maintenance is the ongoing work needed to keep the project area in good condition and ensure its safety for public use. This would include mowing established fields, keeping trails passable, making sure any physical structures are functioning as they are intended and fixing as needed, etc. Maintenance of the land purchased and facilities created with a Greenspace Equity grant is a requirement of the grant. However, costs related to these routine actions are not eligible for additional Greenspace Equity grant funding.

Operating costs are the ongoing expenses incurred from the normal day-to-day running of an organization and these costs are not eligible under the Greenspace Equity grant.

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. Applicants are encouraged to submit cost estimates that are reflective of the cost of their project needs.

Q. How long does a Greenspace Equity project have to last?

Land acquired with a Greenspace Equity grant must be maintained for public use in perpetuity. Land developed or improved by a grant awarded under the program must be operated and maintained for public use by the grant recipient for at least 15 years from the project completion date.

Q. How will our application be evaluated?

Projects will be evaluated based on consistency with Greenspace Equity Program’s purpose, eligibility requirements and criteria, the applicant’s responses, as well as the status of any previously awarded grants. Considerations will include, but are not limited to:

• The extent to which the project engages and is supported by residents, organizations, and businesses located in the overburdened community or underserved community in which the project will be located or will be served by the project.
• The amount of financial or in-kind contributions for implementation of the project, if any.
• The degree to which the project demonstrates partnerships and collaboration among local governments, land trusts, nongovernmental organizations, and community organizations and enhances the public health, livability, and greenspace in the overburdened community or underserved community in which the project will be located or will be served by the project.
• The geographic diversity of the State.

Q. If we are selected for Greenspace Equity funding, when do we get the money?

Projects selected for Greenspace Equity 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 Greenspace Equity 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. Advanced payments toward allowable costs may be considered after BPW approval on a case by case basis.

Q. Can we make a change to the scope of our project after it has been selected for funding?

Since Greenspace Equity 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.

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 Greenspace Equity 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.

*These FAQs are some of the common questions asked about the Greenspace Equity Program. The questions and answers are not intended to be exhaustive, and interested parties and applicants are encouraged to contact the Local Grants Administrator for your area with any questions.

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