CDBG Funding for Parks and Outdoor Amenities

CDBG funding for parks is provided through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to support community development in low- to moderate-income areas. To qualify, a park project must meet the National Objective of benefiting LMI persons, aiding in the prevention of slums or blight, or meeting an urgent community need. Funds are distributed via Entitlement Communities or State CDBG programs.

Key takeaways

CDBG funds must meet one of three National Objectives, with the Low- and Moderate-Income (LMI) benefit being the most common for parks.
Entitlement Communities receive direct annual allocations from HUD, while non-entitlement areas must apply through state-administered programs.
Eligible costs include land acquisition, site clearance, and the construction or rehabilitation of public facilities like playgrounds and fitness trails.
Projects must comply with federal requirements including Davis-Bacon labor standards and environmental reviews.
CDBG funds can often be used as the local match for other federal programs like the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Public participation is a mandatory component of the CDBG planning process, requiring at least two public hearings.
Go Outdoor Amenities provides equipment-only packages that fit CDBG budget cycles, though installation must be managed locally or through partners.

What is CDBG and how does it apply to park projects?

CDBG is a formula-based grant program designed to provide communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs. In the context of parks and recreation, CDBG funds are typically categorized under Public Facilities and Improvements. This allows for the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, or installation of public improvements including parks, playgrounds, and recreational facilities.

Because CDBG is not a specialized park grant, the competition for these funds occurs at the local level against other infrastructure needs like street repairs or sewage systems. A successful park grant proposal must demonstrate how the outdoor amenity directly improves the living environment for the targeted population. GOA has seen over 500 projects completed, many of which utilize diverse funding streams to reach completion.

What are the CDBG National Objectives for parks?

To use CDBG funds, a project must meet at least one of three National Objectives. For most outdoor amenity projects, the LMI Area Benefit is the most applicable. This requires that the park be located in a neighborhood where at least 51 percent of the residents are low- and moderate-income persons. The service area must be primarily residential, and the park must be open to the general public.

The three objectives are:

Benefit to LMI Persons: This is the most common path. It includes area benefit, limited clientele (such as seniors or disabled persons), or housing/job creation.
Slum and Blight: Addressing specific conditions of physical decay in a designated area.
Urgent Need: Used rarely, typically for immediate threats to health and safety like natural disaster recovery.

When planning a project, such as a dog park or fitness area, you must ensure the documents needed for a recreation grant include demographic data or census maps proving the LMI status of the service area.

How do Entitlement Communities and State CDBG programs differ?

The path to securing CDBG funds depends entirely on your municipality's size and designation. HUD divides the program into two main categories: Entitlement and Non-Entitlement (State) programs.

Feature	Entitlement Communities	State CDBG (Non-Entitlement)
Eligibility	Cities over 50,000; Counties over 200,000	Smaller cities and rural counties
Funding Source	Direct annual allocation from HUD	Competitive application to the State
Decision Maker	Local City Council or County Commission	State Department of Community Affairs
Flexibility	High; local control over priorities	Moderate; must align with state priorities

For those in rural areas, USDA funding for rural recreation may be a better fit if state CDBG funds are highly competitive or unavailable for recreation that year.

What park costs can CDBG funds cover?

CDBG funds are highly versatile regarding physical assets. They can cover the hard costs of equipment and the labor for installation. However, it is important to note that GOA provides equipment-only packages. Our Dog Park Package is priced at $5,999 and our Outdoor Fitness Package is $7,999. Shipping to the contiguous U.S. is $999. These fixed costs help when building a grant-ready project budget because they provide concrete figures for the equipment portion of the grant request.

Eligible expenses typically include:

Commercial-grade playground equipment and safety surfacing.
Outdoor fitness stations and calisthenics equipment.
Site preparation including grading and drainage.
ADA-accessible walkways and access ramps.
Benches, trash receptacles, and shade structures.

Note that CDBG cannot be used for general government expenses or park maintenance. It must be used for capital improvements or specific public services.

How do you apply for CDBG park funding?

The application process for CDBG is unique because it starts with the local government's Annual Action Plan. If you are a non-profit or a specific neighborhood group, you must lobby your local CDBG administrator to include the park project in the upcoming year's plan. For municipalities, this involves a series of public hearings to gather citizen input on how the funds should be spent.

If you are in a non-entitlement area, you will follow your state's specific application cycle, which often requires a detailed grant project narrative. You must demonstrate that the project is not only needed but also sustainable. CDBG funds are often subject to strict environmental reviews (NEPA) and cross-cutting federal requirements like the Uniform Relocation Act if land acquisition is involved.

Can CDBG be used with other park grants?

One of the most powerful features of CDBG is its ability to serve as the non-federal match for other grant programs. Most federal grants require a 50/50 match, which can be a barrier for distressed communities. However, CDBG funds are often legally allowed to be treated as local funds for the purpose of matching grants like the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).

This allows a community to potentially fund a multi-million dollar park project with zero local tax dollars by layering CDBG and LWCF. Additionally, for projects focused on urban areas, the ORLP eligibility requirements often align with CDBG's LMI focus, making them natural companions for a comprehensive funding strategy. When calculating your match, ensure you consult the ORLP grant match requirements to verify that your specific CDBG allocation is eligible for that cycle.

Meeting equipment standards for CDBG projects

CDBG-funded projects are public works, meaning the equipment must meet rigorous safety and durability standards. Go Outdoor Amenities works with manufacturers like SportsPlay and Ginast to provide equipment that meets industry standards. While IPEMA, ASTM, ADA, and CPSC certifications are product-specific, they are essential for ensuring the project passes local building inspections and federal oversight.

When ordering our ready-to-ship packages, keep in mind that we target shipping within 7 business days when inventory is available, though this is not a guarantee. All GOA equipment comes with a 3-year warranty. For projects requiring high levels of accessibility, check our guide on federal grants for accessible playgrounds to ensure your CDBG project meets the latest ADA standards.

Frequently asked questions

Can CDBG funds be used for park maintenance?

No. CDBG funds are generally prohibited from being used for 'operating and maintenance' expenses. This includes costs like mowing grass, minor repairs, or staff salaries for park rangers. The funds must be used for capital improvements, such as building a new pavilion, installing a fitness trail, or replacing an entire playground structure.

Does CDBG require the project to be in a specific neighborhood?

Yes, if you are using the LMI Area Benefit objective. The project must serve a primarily residential area where at least 51% of the residents are low- to moderate-income. HUD provides mapping tools and census data to help municipalities determine which census tracts or block groups meet these criteria for park placement.

Is there a maximum amount of CDBG funds we can request for a park?

For Entitlement Communities, there is no HUD-imposed limit on a single project, but the total CDBG allocation for the city limits the budget. For State CDBG programs, there are often caps per application, ranging from $500,000 to $1,000,000 depending on the state's specific guidelines and the project type.

Can CDBG cover the cost of a dog park?

Yes, provided the dog park is located in an eligible LMI area and is open to the public. Dog parks are considered recreational public facilities. GOA offers a Dog Park Package for $5,999 (plus $999 shipping) that is frequently used by municipalities to quickly add amenities to existing neighborhood parks using CDBG funds.

Do CDBG projects require Davis-Bacon wage rates?

Generally, yes. Any CDBG-funded construction project over $2,000 must comply with the Davis-Bacon Act, which requires paying workers the local prevailing wage. This is a critical factor to include in your project budget, as it often increases the cost of installation compared to non-federally funded projects.

How do I find out who manages CDBG in my city?

CDBG is typically managed by the Department of Community Development, Housing Department, or the Planning Department within your local city or county government. You can search the HUD Exchange website for the 'Grantee Contact Reporting' to find the specific point of contact for your jurisdiction.