Morris County Trail Construction Grant Program Applications Open

Published on February 18, 2026

Register to Attend the March 24 Workshop

More than $1 million in funding for recreational trails is now available to Morris County’s 39 municipalities through the 2026 Morris County Trail Construction Grant Program, which opened its 11th annual application cycle today.

Since 2016, the county has awarded more than $7.5 million to build and enhance a growing network of local trails, after voters overwhelmingly approved dedicating a portion of the Morris County Preservation Trust Fund to recreational trail development.

“One of the reasons Morris County is such a great place to live, work and play is our commitment to preserving open space and maintaining and improving our park system,” said Commissioner Thomas J. Mastrangelo, liaison to the trail program. “There is no better way to experience the county’s natural beauty than by exploring the more than 25 miles of trails across our preserved lands and parks. As trail use continues to grow, we are pleased to expand and improve the trail network each year.”

On Jan. 7, 2026, the Morris County Board of County Commissioners approved updates to the program’s rules and regulations regarding eligible and non-eligible trail amenities (sections 7.12 and 7.13). A complete set of the rules is available on the county website.

“The Trail Construction Grant Program offers municipalities design and construction funding to expand local trail systems. Since 2016, the county has awarded 69 grants totaling $7.7 million, supporting projects that will create approximately 39 miles of trails for residents to enjoy. The program’s success is reflected in the participation from 32 Morris County municipalities,” said Betty Cass-Schmidt, chair of the Trail Construction Grant Advisory Committee.

Most municipalities first apply for a design grant to develop plans, identify issues and estimate costs before applying for construction funding.

An application workshop will be held virtually from 10 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 24, to review the program requirements and the application process. Please use the following form to register.

The program rules, procedures and applications have been revised to accommodate the changes. Separate applications are required for each funding category.

Municipalities must complete the following steps:

Schedule and attend a pre-application meeting by April 15, 2026
Register for and attend the March 24 Workshop
Submit a letter of intent by noon May 1, 2026
Submit a completed application by noon June 19, 2026

Permissible Uses and Project, include:

Construction of new trails of various types (single, shared, motorized and non-motorized)
Enhancement of existing trails (improvements to design and/or surface type to accommodate increased use or to make the trail ADA compliant)

Funding only will be considered if the land on which the trail project is to be constructed is:

Located in Morris County
Owned by the municipality
Permanent preserved public parkland or private land with dedicated easements for public recreation use
On land with a permanent easement for public trail/recreational provided to the municipality
On land that is owned by the County of Morris with a License Agreement for use by the municipality
In full municipal control of all land and/or easements on which the trail(s) are to be funded

Costs not eligible for funding include land acquisition or condemnation, sidewalks, improvements or construction of roads, lighting, running tracks (tracks used for races involving athletes at track meets), law enforcement personnel and activities, and promotional materials (shirts, caps, pins, etc.).

The minimum grant amount is $10,000 for all funding categories. The maximum grant award varies based on the category limit is defined as “no one award shall receive more than 60 percent of the funds available during each year’s funding cycle.” However, this exception can be waived if a project is deemed a regionally significant project.

The Trail Grant program operates on a reimbursement basis. Municipal applicants are limited to one application request per funding cycle. The program requires municipalities to contribute a 20 percent match toward the costs of their trail projects.

Grant awards are expected to be announced before the end of the year.

For program guidelines, rules and application materials, visit the Morris County Trail Construction Grant Program webpage.

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Photo 1: Knuth Fields Phase 1 – Denville 2022 Trail Grant.

Photo 2: Budd Street Park – Morristown 2023 Trail Grant.