Playground equipment grants
Choose who is applying and confirm your state to see the programs you can use.
Your state's federal park grant office: Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Choose the applicant type to view grants you can access.
Playground equipment grants are meant for towns, schools and charities; businesses rarely qualify. Government grants usually pay you back after the work is done, while discounts from manufacturers lower the price up front.
Playground Grants for Nonprofits, Towns, and Schools
Charities and community groups, called nonprofits, can turn to private programs and to some state money. The federal park money, though, is mostly for local governments. Large cities receive Community Development Block Grant money straight from Washington for parks in lower-income areas, and smaller towns apply through their state. A rural town with no more than 20,000 people can also ask USDA Rural Development, the federal office that helps small country towns.
Playground Equipment Funding Through State Park Grants
Each state has an office that hands out the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the main federal grant for parks. Our grants finder names that office for your state, from Arizona State Parks and Trails to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Eight states also run park grants of their own, and each has a page here: Texas, California, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Florida, Illinois and Georgia.
Does Your Group Qualify for a KABOOM Grant?
KABOOM is a national charity that builds playgrounds together with communities instead of giving money. Your group helps plan the playground and helps build it. It takes applications only from the cities and nearby towns listed on its website.
Playground Equipment Financing and Manufacturer Discounts
Playground equipment manufacturers offer matching funds, which work as a discount on their own equipment rather than cash. GameTime adds value toward its own play systems, and BCI Burke matches funds for any group whose last Burke playground was bought more than three years ago.
All Playground Equipment Grant Programs and Eligible Applicants
This tool displays programs that match your group and state. The complete list shows every award and who may apply:
| Program | Award | Who can apply |
|---|---|---|
| American Academy of Dermatology Shade Structure Grant American Academy of Dermatology | As much as $8,000 toward a permanent shade structure | Churches, public schools, preschools, towns and nonprofits. Your group must have kept a sun-safety program going for a year or longer before it applies. |
| KABOOM Community-Built Playspace grants A national nonprofit | KABOOM and its funding partners design and build a playground with you. | Towns and nonprofits. Only cities and metro areas listed by KABOOM on its site at the time are eligible. |
| Land and Water Conservation Fund Each state's park grant office handles National Park Service grants | These grants match funding for park land and outdoor recreation facilities, including playgrounds. | Towns, counties and park districts. Deadlines are set by the park grant office in your state. |
| Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership National Park Service | Larger cities and towns compete for these federal park grants. | Towns, counties and park districts. Communities of 25,000 people or more are eligible. |
| Community Development Block Grant The U.S. Housing and Urban Development agency distributes these funds by way of cities, counties and states. | Cities and counties may spend federal money on community projects like parks. | Towns, counties and park districts. Smaller towns apply through the state, while large urban counties and cities with 50,000 people or more receive it directly. |
| USDA Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant USDA Rural Development | Small rural towns can get loans and grants for equipment and community buildings. | Public schools, towns and nonprofits. Only rural places with 20,000 residents or fewer qualify. |
| GameTime Community Champions matching funds GameTime (a PlayCore company) | On its own play systems, GameTime adds extra equipment value. The biggest share, as much as the whole price, goes to orders over $75,000 paid in full; smaller or financed orders get less. | Any group. Within the lower 48 states (every state but Alaska and Hawaii), this offer applies only to GameTime play systems. |
| BCI Burke matching funds BCI Burke (manufacturer) | You can receive up to 100% in matching funds for a new Burke outdoor fitness course or playground. | Any group. Schools, parks, towns and other groups qualify if their last Burke playground purchase was more than three years ago. |
Land and Water Conservation Fund Office in Your State
Public parks receive their main federal grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Each state office sets its own deadlines, and towns, counties, and park districts (local park agencies) apply through that office. The finder names the office once a state is chosen.
Every state's park grant office
Common Questions About Playground Equipment Grants
Do any grants exist for playground equipment?
Yes. Government programs and private ones both help pay for playgrounds and shade. For example, groups that have run a sun-safety program for a year can get up to $8,000 from the American Academy of Dermatology for a permanent shade structure.
How can you get equipment grants?
Start with the grants finder: choose your type of group and your state to see what you can apply for. Some state programs, such as the Texas park grants, take applications once a year, so look at the deadlines early.
Will playground grants pay the full cost upfront?
Usually not. Most government grants pay you back after the project is finished, so your group needs the money up front. California's park grant needs no local share, and the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership pays back up to 50% in places of 25,000 people or more.
What is the process for writing a grant for playground equipment?
Grant reviewers want a full budget. Our playground cost estimate gives you one from a single number, how many children play at the same time, and it includes installation, the soft ground and delivery. Dealers can also give you written prices for the application through our quote form.