Martial Cottle County Park with grass fields, picnic benches, and paved bike trail with mountains in the distance

Urban Grant Programs

The Open Space Authority helps connect people to the outdoors in their own neighborhoods through nearby parks, trails, urban community gardens, and environmental education programs. The Authority has two active grant programs that provide funds for urban projects.

Eligible Applicants

Open Space Authority Urban grant program

This competitive grant program, funded by Measure Q and Measure T, addresses the needs of urban communities, including areas that currently have limited access to preserves and parks. The grant program aims to fund projects that will improve the quality of life for urban residents.

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Qualifying projects:

  1. Environmental Stewardship and Restoration
  2. Parks, Trails, and Public Access
  3. Environmental Education
  4. Urban Agriculture/Food Systems

Eligible Applicants

  1. Public Agencies
  2. Schools and School Districts
  3. Nonprofits

Awards

  1. Award amounts are determined by each grant cycle.
  2. A 25% match may be required, which can be met through in-kind services, supplies, or cash, or through matching funds from other sources.

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20% funding Program

This grant program, referred to as “20% Funding,” has been setting aside 20% of the Authority’s capital fund annually for urban open space projects since 1997. Once a year, funds are allocated to participating cities and the County of Santa Clara based on each jurisdiction’s percentage of parcels within the areas that most benefit from the Authority's resources and services.

How to apply

Requests for open space project funding originate with the participating jurisdictions. City and county staff apply for funds to support specific projects that meet their own and the Authority’s open space requirements and goals.

Download the Guidelines and Application

20% Funding Program Guidelines
20% Funding Program Application
 

Qualifying projects:

  1. Land acquisition
  2. Environmental restoration
  3. Improvements that provide or enhance open space, including:
    • Increasing public appreciation of open space, such as trails, overlooks, and interpretive signage
    • Converting surplus or abandoned lands

Eligible Applicants

  1. City of Campbell
  2. City of Milpitas
  3. City of Morgan Hill
  4. City of San Jose
  5. City of Santa Clara
  6. County of Santa Clara

Awards

Funding available varies by jurisdiction

Urban Success stories See All Urban Success Stories

Megan Dreger headshot with ocean in background
Point of Contact
Megan Dreger
Conservation & Strategic Partnerships Manager
mdreger@openspaceauthority.org
(408) 224-7476

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