TRENTON, NJ – The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ (DCA) Division of Local Government Services (DLGS) today announced that applications are now being accepted for the Local Recreation Improvement Grant (LRIG) Program funding that is being offered to New Jersey counties, municipalities and school districts. The Murphy Administration has allocated $25 million in the Fiscal Year 2023 budget to this competitive grant program that supports improvement and repair of public recreation facilities including local parks, municipal recreation centers, and local stadiums.

“The pandemic showed how important it is to people’s mental and physical health to have access to safe and quality outdoor recreation and community resources,” said Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver, who serves as DCA Commissioner. “This is why the Murphy Administration is continuing to dedicate funding to the Local Recreation Improvement Grant Program. We recognize that recreational spaces aren’t a luxury, but essential to people’s well-being.”

Local Recreation Improvement Grant funds will be awarded to successful grant applicants to help cover costs associated with updating community centers, playgrounds, pools, fields, walking or bicycle trails, rail trails, multi-sport courts, and recreational facilities; one-time personnel costs directly related to improvements; project development professional services costs; equipment costs including playground and recreation facilities equipment; and environmental remediation costs required to prepare recreation sites for use.

“Communities that can show a demonstrated need for recreational resources and a commitment to enhancing recreational services will receive priority for grant funding,” said DLGS Director Jacquelyn Suárez. “We want to make it possible for all New Jerseyans to benefit from quality public recreational spaces and facilities so they can lead healthier lives.”

The Local Recreation Improvement Grant (LRIG) Program was developed to:

·     Fund improvements to recreational facilities;

·     Provide quality outdoor recreational space to underserved communities; and

·     Assist local units in achieving unmet recreational obligations.

New Jersey counties, municipalities, and school districts are eligible to apply.

Applications must be submitted through the DCA SAGE Portal at https://dcasage.intelligrants.com/portal.asp and are due no later than 5 p.m. on January 20, 2023.

Program guidelines and detailed information about the FY 2023 LRIG Program are available at https://www.nj.gov/dca/dlgs/programs/lriggrants.shtml on the DCA website.

The Division of Local Government Services serves as an advocate for local government interests and provides technical and financial assistance in budgeting, financial reporting, joint services, purchasing, and management issues. They are responsible for the financial integrity of all local government units and review and approve all municipal, county, and fire district budgets. They also review many local government financial actions and govern and guide the conduct of local government officials.

DCA offers a wide range of programs and services, including local government management and finance, affordable housing production, fire safety, building safety, community planning and development, disaster recovery and mitigation, and information privacy.

For more information about DCA, visit https://nj.gov/dca/ or follow the Department on social media: