This competitive grant program creates new parks and new recreation opportunities in underserved communities across California.
The Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program (SPP) is a competitive grant program creating new parks and new recreation opportunities in underserved communities across California.
KEY UPDATES:
30-Day Public Comment Period is Now Open!
Draft Round 5 Guide:
Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program(SPP) Round 5 Draft Guide
Ways to Comment
Email Comments
Written comments may be submitted by email from May 26, 2026, through June 26, 2026 at 5:00 PM, to: OGALS@parks.ca.gov
Public Comment Hearings
The public is invited to attend and provide comments during the hearings. Each hearing will include a page-by-page review of the Draft Round 5 SPP Application Guide.
To attend a hearing, click on a date below to RSVP.
Tuesday, June 2, 2026 (1:00 pm - 4:00 pm)
Monday, June 15, 2026 (9:00 am – 12:00 pm)
Proposition 4 (Climate Bond) allocates $188.5 million for the Round 5 funding cycle. Grant funding will be awarded through a competitive process anticipated to open later in summer 2026.
Additional Program Information:
To explore the impact of SPP, including inspirational videos and “before and after” examples from prior rounds, please visit the program webpage: https://www.parksforcalifornia.org/projects/
Community-Based Planning
- Applicants may count in-person meetings held after November 5, 2024 (the passage of Proposition 4), toward SPP Round 5 community-based planning requirements.
- Meetings conducted prior to November 5, 2024, may be included for historical context but will not count toward Round 5 requirements.
- For previously unfunded SPP Round 4 applications at the same project site, at least two additional meetings are required, ensuring continued alignment with community-driven priorities.
- Applicants taking photos/videos during the in-person meetings must retain signed photo/video consent forms that clearly state may be shared with partnering agencies (e.g., California Department of Parks and Recreation) for grant-related purposes.
The Designing Parks Using Community-Based Planning Methods guide is a valuable resource to support applicants throughout this process:
https://parksforcalifornia.org/planning_guide
Additionally, applicants are strongly encouraged to engage with local tribes throughout the community-based planning process to ensure inclusive and representative input. For assistance with tribal outreach, please refer to the following resources:
Climate Vulnerable Populations
The focus on Proposition 4 is to strengthen communities through protecting drinking water, reducing wildfire and flood risks, restoring natural places, supporting healthy working lands, and expanding access to parks and outdoor spaces.
- To support this focus, the Community FactFinder has been enhanced to include five high-climate vulnerability layers: wildfire, extreme heat, flood, drought, and sea level rise.
- Having these new layers will give applicants an opportunity to visually see what types of climate impacts will affect their community by using the Community FactFinder.
- These tools allow applicants to better understand local climate risks and incorporate climate-informed solutions into project planning. Climate vulnerabilities, and potential responses, should also be addressed during community-based planning efforts.
Technical Assistance
For technical assistance, applicants are encouraged to contact the “Competitive (Application/Pre-Award) Project Officer" based on the county where the project will be located. Please use this link and see appropriate column for contact information: List of Competitive Application Project Officers by County
SPP Showcase Videos
Parks California created six inspiring videos showcasing SPP's impact on communities across California.
- Overview
- Inspiration Park, Fresno
- Jacaranda Park, Los Angeles
- Central Park, Stanton
- Ocotillo Park, Cathedral City
- Jefferson Community Center and Park, Eureka
More examples of SPP’s legacy can be viewed in “before” and “after” project photos at https://www.parksforcalifornia.org/projects/
Public Comment Period
A 30-day public comment period will occur before the request for applications.
SPP Round 5 Application Deadline: TBD
Click the button below to begin the online SPP application
Amount Available: $188.5 million
Maximum Grant Request: $8,500,000
Minimum Grant Request: $200,000
No Match required
Eligible Applicants:
- Cities and counties
- DISTRICTS
- JOINT POWERS AUTHORITIES (one member of the JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY must be either an eligible DISTRICT, City or County)
- NON-PROFITS with 501(c)(3) status
Upcoming Application Webinars - TBD
The Office of Grants and Local Services will host in-person and virtual SPP Application Workshops. We present the same review of the Application Guide in each Workshop.
SPP Application Workshops – TBD
- (Workshop Signup Link Available Soon) If you’re not able to attend either an in-person or virtual SPP Application Workshop, a recording of a virtual Application Workshop will be provided here soon.
- Workshop Agenda (Coming Soon)
Draft Grant Application Guide - Round 5
Administration Guide - Round 4
Administration Guide - Round 5 (Coming Soon!)
Documents
- Application Checklist Review and Applicant Tips
- Best Practices
- Budget Narrative
- Competitive Chart
- Designing Parks Using Community-Based Planning
- Placeholder Information
- Program Timeline
- SPP Frequently Asked Questions
- 2026 Nonprofit Guidance Information Booklet
- Project Selection Criteria Response Template
Land Tenure
Community FactFinder Resources
- Community Factfinder Tool
- Community FactFinder Handbook
- Community FactFinder Video (Link Coming)
- Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) scorp@parks.ca.gov
FORMS
- Project Application Form DPR 832A
- Community FactFinder Certification Form DPR 832E
- Authorizing Resolution & Directions Form DPR XXXX
- Grant Scope/Cost Estimate Form
- Funding Sources Form DPR 832D
- Project Timeline Form DPR 832B
- Copyright License Agreement DPR 992A
- Indirect Cost Rate Instructions and Form
Technical Assistance Websites - Helpful Links
Criteria #5(C) - Community-Based Planning
- Mitigating wildfire risk
https://osfm.fire.ca.gov/committees/california-wildfire-mitigation-program - Mitigating extreme heat risk
https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/heat-waves-arent-going-away-heres-how-we-can - Mitigating flood risk
https://coast.noaa.gov/stormwater-floods/explore/
https://www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure/mitigate-flooding - Mitigating drought risk
https://drought.unl.edu/Education/DroughtforKids/Protection.aspx - Mitigating sea level rise
https://www.coastal.ca.gov/climate/slr/vulnerability-adaptation/adaptation
Conservation Corps
- California Association of Local Conservation Corps - https://www.localcorpsfoundation.org
- California Conservation Corps - https://ccc.ca.gov/collaborate/consultation
- Tribal Corps – Not a certified Corps; partnerships can earn points - https://ccc.ca.gov/collaborate/tribal-corps
Criteria #8 – Environmental Design
- California State Water Resources Control Board - https://www.waterboards.ca.gov
- Strategy to Optimize Resource Management of Stormwater - https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/stormwater/storms
- California Department of Water Resources - https://water.ca.gov
- California Invasive Plant Council - https://www.cal-ipc.org
- California Native Plant Council - https://www.cnps.org
- Calscape - https://calscape.org
- Forest Stewardship Council - https://fsc.org
- Plant-related Programs at California Department of Fish and Wildlife - https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Plants/Programs
- CalRecycle - https://calrecycle.ca.gov
- i-Tree Tools - https://www.itreetools.org
- LEED Information
- Sustainable SITES Initiative Information
Criteria #10(B) - Quality of Life Benefits
- Healthy Development Without Displacement: Realizing the Vision of Healthy Communities for All.
Housing-related anti-displacement strategies are listed on page 22 of this report. - Development without Displacement: Resisting Gentrification in the Bay Area.
Production and preservation of affordable housing strategies begin on page 67 of this report. - Gentrification and Displacement Study: implementing an equitable inclusive development strategy in the context of gentrification.
Housing displacement examples begin on page 10 of this report - How Housing Matters for Educational, Health, and Economic Outcomes
- Children & Nature Network
A resource for studies, information, and funding opportunities for current grantees and potential applicants. https://www.childrenandnature.org
Checklist #10 – Project Site Ownership, Acquisition or Lease
California Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers: https://brea.ca.gov/
For technical assistance, applicants are encouraged to send questions to the “Competitive Grant Application/Pre-Award” Project Officer based on the county where the project is located. Please use this link: List of Competitive Application Project Officers by County
Assembly Bill 31, which created the SPP, was signed into law on September 30, 2008. SPP statute is found in Public Resources Code §5640 through 5653. Funding for the grant program was first made available through the Proposition 84 (2006 Bond Act) Sustainable Communities and Climate Change Reduction chapter (Public Resources Code § 75065 (b) (1-5). The program’s legacy continued through Proposition 68 (2018 Bond Act).
- This competitive program has had four rounds of funding to create new parks and new recreation opportunities in underserved communities across California. Between all four rounds of funding:
- $7.69 billion requested – 1,827 project applications
- $1.2 billion in grants – 313 grant projects
Round Four
- "Round Four" Project Award List
- Round 4 Highlights
- $2.42 billion in requests - 468 project applications
- $548.3 million in grants – 112 grant projects (50 new parks and 62 expansions/renovations of existing parks)
- An additional $41.9 million appropriated in the 2023–24 State Budget was awarded to previously unfunded Round 4 applications under the Statewide Park Program
- On December 28, 2023, additional "Round Four" awards totaling $41.9 million were announced.
Round Three
- On February 25, 2020 “Round Three” awards totaling $254.9 million were announced. 478 applications were received requesting $2.3 billion for the available $254.9 million in this round.
Rounds One & Two
In the photo gallery, filter by “Prop. 68 SPP" to view all 182 grant projects between Rounds 3 and 4! The gallery can be found here:www.parksforcalifornia.org/projects