Morris County Open Space Application Grant Cycle is Open for 2026
Published on March 23, 2026
New Online Portal Introduced for Applicants
The Morris County Office of Planning and Preservation is announcing the availability of grant applications to file for open space funding through the Morris County Preservation Trust Fund.
“Morris County remains committed to preserving the open spaces that enhance our communities and contribute to the high quality of life that people value here. These investments help protect our natural landscapes, so that our residents can continue enjoying our parks, trails and resources for years to come,” said Commissioner Thomas Mastrangelo, liaison to the Office of Planning and Preservation.
Beginning with the 2026 funding round, all grant materials -- including the application and appraisal -- must be submitted through the county’s new online application portal. A training session will be held virtually from 7 to 8 p.m. on Monday, April 13 to assist applicants on the use of this new platform.
Potential applicants can register for the portal training by completing the Registration Form.
“Any of Morris County’s 39 municipalities and qualified charitable conservancies are eligible to apply for grant funding,” said Barbara Murray, program coordinator of the Morris County Open Space Trust Fund program.
The deadline for submitting open space applications and appraisals for 2026 funding is Friday, June 12, 2026. Further information and details of all application requirements are available on the program website.
In 2025, the Morris County Board of County Commissioners approved the Open Space Trust Fund Committee’s recommendations to award $6.95 million in grants for acquisition and preservation of 192.3 acres across three municipalities.
Since its inception in 1994, the Open Space Trust Fund program has helped to preserve more than 18,440 acres throughout Morris County,supported by more than $300 million in funding generated through a preservation tax approved by voters in 1992.
In addition to open space projects, the county’s Preservation Trust Fund also supports farmland and historic preservation, county parkland acquisition, recreational trails projects, and the purchase of flood-prone residential properties.
The review process for grant applications is managed by the Open Space Trust Fund Committee, which visits the proposed sites and makes final recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners each fall.
For more information, contact the Office of Planning and Preservation at 973-829-8120.
###
Photo 1: The second phase of Bee Meadow Greenway in Hanover Township, preserved in 2023. The flat, open property complements other acquisitions in the Bee Meadow Greenway and was incorporated into the existing facilities at Bee Meadow Park.
Photo 2: The Alli Property, preserved and acquired by Boonton Township in 2023. The 18.49-acre tract enhances preserved lands in the region, including Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area and the Rockaway Valley Airdrome Fields.