MORRIS COUNTY, N.J. — The Morris County Office of Planning and Preservation has opened the 2026 application cycle for open space funding through the Morris County Preservation Trust Fund.
Officials said the program supports the acquisition and preservation of open space across the county, helping protect natural resources and expand access to parks and trails.
“Morris County remains committed to preserving the open spaces that enhance our communities and contribute to the high quality of life that people value here. These investments help protect our natural landscapes, so that our residents can continue enjoying our parks, trails and resources for years to come,” said Commissioner Thomas Mastrangelo, liaison to the Office of Planning and Preservation.
For the 2026 funding round, all application materials, including appraisals, must be submitted through a new online portal. A virtual training session to assist applicants with the system is scheduled for April 13 from 7 to 8 p.m.
“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.
The deadline to submit applications and appraisals is June 12.
In 2025, the Morris County Board of County Commissioners approved nearly $7 million in grants to preserve more than 192 acres across three municipalities.
Since its creation in 1994, the Open Space Trust Fund has helped preserve more than 18,400 acres throughout Morris County, supported by over $300 million in funding generated through a voter-approved preservation tax.
In addition to open space projects, the fund also supports farmland and historic preservation, county parkland acquisition, recreational trails and the purchase of flood-prone residential properties.
Applications are reviewed by the Open Space Trust Fund Committee, which evaluates sites and makes recommendations to the county commissioners each fall.
For more information, contact the Morris County Office of Planning and Preservation.
