Local Parks Grant: Implementation Grants

Local Parks Grant: Implementation Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Arts in California Parks
Last Updated: February 11, 2026

Summary

The Local Parks Grant: Implementation Grants program by Arts in California Parks aims to foster community ties by enhancing local cultural history through art and nature in parks. Eligible projects must engage the public and contribute to community health and well-being, with grants awarded for initiatives in local parks across California. Projects are expected to be executed within a 12-month period, starting in October 2025, and should focus on creating sustainable connections to local heritage.

Overview

Welcome to Arts in California Parks, a new program from California State Parks that supports artists, culture bearers, California Native American tribes, and communities in creating artwork that offers perspective on our past and present and help us imagine our potential. The program will establish art installations and programming in State and local parks as catalysts for sustainable community connection, health, and well-being. his program is aligned with the goals of the Outdoor Access for All initiative championed by Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and the Natural Resources Agency’s Outdoors for All initiative as well as California State Parks’ Reexamining Our Past initiative. Arts in California Parks will fund two distinct programs: Arts in State Parks will fund projects located within State Park boundaries.The Local Parks Grants Program will award funds for projects and programs in local parks throughout California through three grant cycles, anticipated for 2024, 2025 and 2026. This program will fund both Planning and Development Grants and Implementation Grants. Local Parks Grant: Implementation Grants This new multi-year grant program intends to create local community connections to California’s rich and diverse cultural history and natural areas outside of California’s state park boundaries. Eligible projects will enhance connections to local cultural history, local parks, open space or natural areas through community events, programming or installations that help to build sustainable community connections, health and well-being. The Local Parks Grants Program will be managed and administered by Parks California. Local parks include land that is owned or managed by a local city, county, park or community service district, land trusts, regional park or open space district, non-profit organization or foundation, or any other entity other than federal and state agencies. Both indoor and outdoor spaces can be considered. For the Implementation Grant, projects should take place within the 12-month grant period. Grant awards will be announced in October 2025, with projects to begin as early as October 2025 and should be completed by September 2026.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Eligible applicants are 501(c)3 organizations, California Native American Tribes, Native 7871 Organizations, Land Trusts, Fiscally Sponsored Community Organizations, Foundations, and Local Government Agencies (City, County, Regional).Applicants must facilitate a partnership between nonprofit(s), artist (s) and local public park manager(s). Partnerships may include 501c3 non-profit organizations, California Native American tribes, foundations, land trusts and/or local governments.Projects must bring art and nature together as a catalyst for community connection in local parks.Projects must contribute to community connection, health, well-being and/or placemaking.Projects must be open to the general public.Projects must take place at a local park.Only one application per organization will be considered for funding.Completing a Planning and Development Grant is not a requirement for Implementation Grant applicants.Applicants who will need maintenance for their temporary or permanent installations should outline a clear strategy for maintaining their art installations, including a detailed maintenance schedule, identification of alternative funding sources, and staffing plans.

Ineligibility

Fundraising, grant writing, lobbying, costs outside grant performance period and costs outside the approved grant scope. Costs outside the approved grant period including long-term maintenance fees on temporary and permanent art.Grant funds from the Arts in California Parks, Local Park Program are designated for the creation and implementation of art programs and cannot be allocated towards the long-term maintenance of temporary to permanent art installations.