Playground equipment grants in Maryland

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) runs the Community Parks and Playgrounds Program, called CPP for short. It is paid for mostly with state bonds. DNR says the program has about $2.5 million a year. It can reach $5 million when the budget allows.

Buying and installing playground equipment is named as an eligible use. So are new parks, park repairs, trails and nature play spaces. Since 2002, the state has approved $102.4 million for 934 park and playground projects.

Competition is real. For fiscal year 2027, DNR received 59 requests asking for $15,191,186. It funded 26 of them, worth $5 million. A clear plan and a fair price both matter.

A few rules shape every CPP playground:

• Equipment must meet national playground safety standards and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Surfacing may not hold more than 90 parts per million of lead or any added PFAS chemicals.
• The town must keep the project for at least 20 years.
• CPP pays for building only, never upkeep.
• Final payment needs photos of the finished site and a CPP sign.

Our surfacing cost guide compares the main surface types.

The CPP FAQ is blunt. HOAs and nonprofits cannot apply on their own. They can partner with the municipality, if the site sits inside town limits. The finished play area must be open to everyone, not only members or residents.

The land does not have to belong to the town. The town needs the right to build there, though. DNR accepts an easement, a lease with over 20 years left, or a joint use agreement signed by the owner.

This partner path works for faith groups. In August 2026, CPP money paid for equipment at the Salem United Methodist Church Community Playground in Brookville. A church committee can follow the same model. Start by asking your mayor or town manager to sponsor the project. Our church playground guide covers layouts for shared sites.

CPP runs once a year, and it moves slowly. The fiscal year 2028 round has closed. Applications were due August 19, 2026, after DNR workshops in June and July. Here is what DNR expects next for that round:

• Late January or early February 2027: a draft state budget lists the chosen projects.
• May or June 2027: towns hear if they are in or out.
• After July 1, 2027: the Board of Public Works votes on each grant.

Do not buy anything early. DNR will not pay back costs spent before your notice arrives. CPP also pays by reimbursement, so the town pays the bill first. Watch the CPP page for the next call, which last opened in June.

Program Open Space started in 1969. Its local side sends money every year to all 23 counties and Baltimore City by formula. The program is funded mainly by the state property transfer tax.

Each county chooses its own projects. A playground must appear in the county's POS Local Annual Program, and the county must approve the funds. Towns may get a slice of the county share, by percentage or by project. Check the POS Local page for forms and the manual.

Building projects need a local match of 10% or 25%. The rate depends on the county's land and recreation plan. As with CPP, HOAs and nonprofits must partner with a county or town. Our park playground guide helps county parks staff plan a site.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is federal park money. DNR picks Maryland's local projects, then the National Park Service gives final approval. Only governments may apply, such as counties, towns, tribes and special districts.

The 2026 round asked for requests between $50,000 and $3,000,000. Every LWCF dollar must be matched 1:1 with money that is not federal. Here is a useful Maryland twist. A POS Local or CPP grant can count as that match. Payment comes after the project is done, and work must finish within three years.

The DNR LWCF page says the 2026 round is closed. DNR plans to post details on the next round in April 2027. The whole park must then stay in public recreation use forever.

Two Board of Public Works meetings in 2026 show where the money went. On August 19, the board approved $3.18 million in CPP grants for 13 projects. The DNR announcement lists playground equipment for:

• Sharp Road Park in Denton and James T. Wright Park in Preston.
• Community Center Park in Garrett Park.
• Bartlett Park in Brentwood, along with a fitness court.
• Gordy Park in Delmar, along with a pavilion.

POS Local money that day also paid for a new playground at Pleasant Valley Park in Washington County. On October 7, the board approved nearly $11.79 million in POS Local grants. That list included a new playground at Wiley H. Bates Heritage Park and new play equipment at Ridge Avenue Park in Hagerstown.

For national and private funders, see our playground grants hub. When your town is ready to price a plan, one free quote request brings bids from Maryland dealers and factory reps. Real quotes make a CPP budget easier to defend.