Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities Grant Program

The Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities Grant Program, commonly referred to as the PARC Grant Program, is administered by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs through the Division of Conservation Services. The program was established to assist municipalities with acquiring and developing land for park and outdoor recreation purposes. The FY27 funding round is intended to support the Healey-Driscoll Administration's objective of increasing recreational access and equitable park opportunities for residents across Massachusetts. The grant program also supports climate resiliency priorities identified under Executive Order 569 by incorporating resiliency-related scoring criteria and by rewarding projects connected to Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness planning efforts. The program is structured as a reimbursement grant program, meaning applicants must initially fund project expenses and later seek reimbursement for approved costs. Eligible projects under the PARC program include acquisition of recreation land, development of new parks, and renovation or rehabilitation of existing parks. Eligible acquisition costs may include title searches, appraisals, surveys, legal fees, recording fees, environmental assessments, and related transactional services. Eligible development and renovation expenses include engineering, design, construction, and construction supervision. Design-only projects are generally not eligible unless they are part of a broader construction effort. Artificial turf fields are specifically ineligible for FY27 funding. The maximum grant reimbursement available for most municipalities is $425,000, while certain Small Town projects are limited to a maximum of $100,000. Reimbursement rates vary from 52 percent to 70 percent of total eligible project costs based on the applicant municipality's equalized valuation per capita ranking. Eligibility is limited to municipalities that have approved Open Space and Recreation Plans on file with the Division of Conservation Services or have draft plans under active review by the application deadline. Cities of any size, Cape Cod communities, and towns with populations greater than 35,000 residents are eligible for the full funding maximum. Municipalities with fewer than 35,000 residents may qualify either as Small Town projects or as Regional or Statewide projects if they meet public transportation accessibility or parking capacity thresholds. Applicants must also have authorized park, playground, or recreation commissions established pursuant to Massachusetts law. Municipalities may submit multiple applications, although the agency reserves the right to limit final awards to one project per municipality depending on funding availability and application volume. The PARC program requires applicants to demonstrate the financial ability to complete the full project prior to reimbursement. Municipalities must obtain a City Council or Town Meeting vote appropriating 100 percent of total project costs before a contract can be executed. Other state grant funding generally cannot be used as the local share, although Community Preservation Act funding is permitted. All funded properties must remain open to the general public for appropriate active recreational use and become protected parkland under Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution and Chapter 45 of Massachusetts General Laws. Projects are also subject to state procurement requirements and post-completion land use protections. Quarterly reporting is required for funded projects, and reimbursement requests must be supported by municipal payment documentation. Applications must be submitted through the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Grant Management System. Applicants are required to create an online account and complete organization validation before submitting materials. A complete application package includes the application form, supporting project narratives, budget details, Open Space and Recreation Plans if not already on file, and appraisal reports for acquisition projects. Additional supporting materials may include site development plans, deeds, municipal votes, environmental review documentation, public outreach evidence, and maps. The application instructions strongly encourage attendance at one of the scheduled information workshops. An in-person workshop was scheduled for May 7, 2026 in Westborough, Massachusetts, and a virtual workshop was scheduled for May 6, 2026 through Microsoft Teams. Applicants were required to RSVP by May 5, 2026. Applications are evaluated using a detailed point-based selection system. Sixty percent of the score is based on project quality factors including climate resiliency, accessibility for people with disabilities, environmental education opportunities, stewardship partnerships, outreach to burdened communities, and consistency with state and municipal planning documents. Forty percent of the score is based on demographic and community characteristics such as population density, median income, poverty rates, health data, burdened area status, and open space availability. Additional bonus points may be awarded to Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness communities if their projects align with relevant climate adaptation priorities. After scoring and site inspections, recommendations are reviewed by EEA staff, senior management, and ultimately approved by the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs. The FY27 PARC Grant Program application deadline is July 9, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Support letters are due July 16, 2026, although they are optional and do not affect scoring. Awards are expected approximately 120 days after the application deadline, with contract negotiations beginning shortly thereafter. The anticipated contract start date is January 31, 2027. Depending on project type and schedule, contracts may remain active through June 30, 2027 or June 30, 2028. The PARC program operates as an annual recurring funding opportunity administered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Questions regarding the program are directed to Melissa Cryan at the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, who serves as the program contact and may be reached at melissa.cryan@mass.gov or by phone at (857) 274-7173.

Projects that demonstrate climate resiliency accessibility for people with disabilities outreach to burdened communities and consistency with municipal and statewide planning goals are prioritized during scoring. Municipalities should ensure all Open Space and Recreation Plans are current and complete before submission.