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    Local Funding

    Stable, local public funding is essential for a successful and equitable park system. It is the primary source for critical maintenance, operations and programming. Those responsibilities are consistently identified by park leaders as the most challenging to fund, but often not covered by state, federal or philanthropic sources. Meanwhile, equity challenges between cities remain. Even with parks, there are haves and have-nots. Stable, local public funding enables communities to address disparities and promote fair and equitable park resources.

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    City Funding

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    Additional Resources

    CPA ParkXChange resource Library

    Local Funding Resources for Urban Park Professionals

    Searchable library including cross-sector MOUs, equity action plans, agreements for park maintenance and operations, green infrastructure development and maintenance, community benefits, arts and cultural programming, guides and technical tools.

    CPA Report

    Closing the Gap: Public and Private Funding Strategies for Neighborhood Parks

    Learn about local public funding approaches in this report from City Parks Alliance and Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.

    CPA Report

    Investing in Equitable Urban Park Systems: Case Studies and Recommendations

    Learn from seven municipalities using equitable, data-driven park investment strategies for distributing park resources.

    Infographics

    City Parks Are A Smart Investment For America's Health, Economy, & Environment

    City Parks Alliance

    Case Studies

    Boulder, CO

    Reimagining Park Funds

    A small increase in sales tax drives Boulder, Colorado’s impressive park system.

    Minneapolis, MN

    Keeping Funds Local

    A network of 150+ neighborhood parks is bolstered entirely by local funding. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board rethought funding for neighborhood parks comes via net debt bonds and pay-as-you-go capital funds allocated from the General Fund annual budget, largely from property taxes. 

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    Local Funding

    Stable, local public funding is essential for a successful and equitable park system. It is the primary source for critical maintenance, operations and programming. Those responsibilities are consistently identified by park leaders as the most challenging to fund, but often not covered by state, federal or philanthropic sources.  Equity challenges vary between cities.  Stable, local public funding enables communities to address disparities and promote fair and equitable park resources.  

    Local funding for parks comes primarily from four sources:

    1. the general fund, allocated by elected officials through the annual budget process,
    2. revenue generating activities,
    3. legislative initiatives, approved by local elected officials, and
    4. ballot initiatives, approved by citizens by popular vote.

    Local laws governing voter-approved ballot measures vary, but most jurisdictions allow them, making them a significant source of funding for local parks.  According to the Trust for Public Land’s Action Fund, in 2019 alone, voters nationwide approved $5.4 billion in local public funding for parks and public land.

    We hope you can use the information below to identify new funding sources and make the case for investing in parks as essential infrastructure in your city. For more information on these and other local public funding approaches, see the report Closing the Gap: Public and Private Funding Strategies for Neighborhood Parks, a joint publication of the City Parks Alliance and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.