Morris County’s 2026 open space grant cycle is open, and the deadline is fast approaching. All applications and appraisals must be submitted through a new online portal by Friday, June 12, 2026.
The grants come from the Morris County Open Space Trust Fund, a voter approved preservation program funded through a dedicated county tax. Since 1994, the trust has helped preserve more than 18,400 acres across Morris County, supported by over 300 million dollars in funding.
For the 2026 round, the county is requiring applicants to use a new online portal for all submissions, replacing the previous paper based process. Eligible applicants include any of Morris County’s 39 municipalities and qualified charitable conservancies.
“Any of Morris County’s 39 municipalities and qualified charitable conservancies are eligible to apply for grant funding,” said Barbara Murray, program coordinator of the Morris County Open Space Trust Fund program. Morris County Commissioner Deputy Director Stephen Shaw has also voiced support for the program.
The application cycle matters locally. Earlier this spring, Denville Township and Morris County preserved 57 acres at the former St. Francis site in Denville, backed by a 5.7 million dollar Morris County Open Space Trust Fund grant. That preservation kept a large parcel permanently off the development market and added to Denville’s open space inventory.
Towns and nonprofits considering applications for 2026 can find program details and the new portal through the Morris County Office of Planning and Preservation. Questions can be directed to the office at 973-829-8120.
