Parks and Open Space Florida Forever Grant Program

The preservation of green space, including parks, open space, beaches and natural areas, is an important factor in creating livable communities. In 1989, the Florida Communities Trust was created to meet this need. The Trust was funded through the Preservation 2000 bond program until the Florida Forever program was approved by the Florida Legislature in 1999.

 

The Parks and Open Space Florida Forever grant program provides funding to local governments and eligible nonprofit environmental organizations for acquisition of community-based parks, open space and greenways that further outdoor recreation and natural resource protection needs identified in local government comprehensive plans. The program provides local governments the opportunity to leverage local dollars with state dollars to optimize conservation benefits and encourages both public-private partnerships and land acquisition initiatives.

 

The Parks and Open Space Florida Forever Grant Program requires local governments to provide a minimum 25% match, except for nonprofit environmental organizations and small local governments (defined as municipalities with a population less than 10,000 and counties with a population less than 75,000).

 

Grant Program	Application Webinar	Grant Submission Cycle
Parks and Open Space	Register to View Recording	October 10, 2023 - January 10, 2024

Application Webinar Materials

• Webinar Presentation
• Webinar Q & As

FY 2023-24 Application Materials

• Application Instructions
• Application Development Resources
• Application Form
• FCT Statutes and Rules

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Post-Completion Responsibilities ^Update!

• Post Completion Webinar ^New!
• Webinar Presentation ^New!
• Webinar Q & As ^New!

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Additional Resources

• Stewardship Reports
• Revenue Reports: Due annually by July 31
• FCT Acknowledgment Sign Requirements

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Reports and Additional Information

• Projects Open and Undeveloped Status Report
• FCT 2022-2023 Annual Report
• FCT 2021-2022 Annual Report
• FCT 2020-2021 Annual Report
• FCT 2019-2020 Annual Report
• FCT 2018-2019 Annual Report
• FCT 2017-2018 Annual Report

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Contact us for more information: FloridaCommunitiesTrust@floridadep.gov

Department of Environmental Protection

Division of State Lands

Land and Recreation Grants Section

3900 Commonwealth Blvd., MS 585

Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000

850-245-2501