Apply for a Community Grant
We award up to $5,000 for community-led, small-scale, high-impact park improvement projects. Find out if you are eligible for funding!
Eligibility
We are looking to support neighborhood groups and residents with a vision for a project in their local park. We prioritize groups of three or more individuals who are diverse, inclusive, and represent the neighborhood surrounding the park. A defined budget and some established financial support are a plus. While we recognize the essential need for park programming and education, the Community Grant Program does not currently fund programming or events.
How We Select Projects
The Denver Park Trust works to ensure more equitable access to parks across Denver. The Denver Park Trust uses a set of criteria to select projects that are most in need of support.
1. Equity
Using the Denver Parks and Recreation’s Neighborhood Equity Index (see below) as a guide to evaluate the socioeconomic, environmental, and health barriers that residents of Denver neighborhoods face, will this park project contribute to a more equitable park system?
2. Access
Referencing the Trust for Public Land’s 10-Minute Walk, which sets a goal of all Americans living within a 10-minute walk or roll of a park by 2050, will this project contribute to improving park access to a high-quality park in a historically under-resourced area?
3. Historical & Cultural Significance
Does this project have cultural or historical significance specific to Denver or the neighborhood it serves?
4. Community Involvement
Has this project garnered interest or action from community members? Is there noticeable interest in residents in the neighborhood, volunteer work, assistance, or other support?
5. Health & Wellbeing
Referencing Denver Parks and Recreation’s Game Plan for a Healthy City, which focuses on providing more resilient green spaces to more Denver residents, will this project contribute to the overall health and environment of Denver?
6. Funding
Does this project have any financial support or commitments, either from the government or community, that can be supplemented by the Denver Park Trust’s funding?
Application & Grant Selection Process:
Step One: Introduce Your Project
Please schedule a 15-30 minute meeting with a Denver Park Trust staff member before submitting your application to make sure your project is a good fit, and to help us better identify areas where can support your efforts. Please schedule your meeting here.
Step Two: Submit Grant Application
If your project is in line with the Denver Park Trust’s project selection criteria, please complete the application below and provide us with:
- The location of the park or park project.
- A brief summary of your project.
- Any steps you’ve taken to date toward completing your project.
- A budget, if applicable, and the amount of funding you are requesting.
Step Three: Review Process
All grants requests will be submitted to the Denver Park Trust Board of Directors for approval. This process can take 8-10 weeks.
Step Four: Funds Awarded
If your grant is approved, the awarded amount will be kept in a fund that is maintained and managed by the Denver Park Trust. Payments can be made from your account to city-approved vendors, Denver Parks and Recreation, or for other associated costs as long as they are approved by the grantee and Denver Park Trust. Grantees are allowed to add additional funds to their Denver Park Trust account beyond what was granted to them for a 3% administration fee. If there are excess funds at the completion of your project, they can be re-allocated to an approved project, transferred to a city-run maintenance fund, or donated to the Denver Park Trust.