Parks and Open Space
Application Submission Cycle:
- Start date: November 1, 2024
- Ending date: January 15, 2024
Our Grants Department can help!
The Florida Communities Trust (FCT) is a state-funded land acquisition program created by Chapter 380, Florida Statutes. The grant programs administered by FCT were initially funded through bonds issued under Preservation 2000 and currently through the Florida Forever Act. FCT assists communities with protecting natural resources, providing recreational opportunities and preserving Florida’s traditional working waterfronts through the competitive criteria outlined in the Parks and Open Space and the Stan Mayfield Working Waterfronts Florida Forever Grant Programs. FCT is governed by a five-member board with the Secretary of DEP or their designee serving as the chair.
FCT helps Florida communities create local recreational opportunities, ensure public access to our beautiful beaches, protect our historical and cultural resources, preserve Florida’s commercial fishing heritage and traditional working waterfronts, and provide clean air and drinking water essential to creating livable communities. FCT helps local governments implement their comprehensive plans through the acquisition of land and utilize funds from the Florida Forever Program. As a non-regulatory program, FCT promotes innovative solutions to the challenges inherent in the comprehensive planning process.
Since its inception in 1989, FCT has facilitated the acquisition of over 96,987 acres of lands for conservation and local recreational opportunities. Through Preservation 2000 and Florida Forever, FCT grants total almost $875 million with local matching funds of $754 million for a combined total of $1.6 billion dollars.
Recreational Facilities on Florida Communities Trust Sites Below are the more common recreational facilities found on FCT sites throughout Florida. This list is not exhaustive.
Picnic pavilion, Fishing pier, Frisbee golf course, Wildlife observation tower, Wildlife observation platform, Geocache (permanent; multiple sites), Trails (hiking, nature, biking, fitness, shared use, equestrian), Canoe launch/pier, Boat ramp/pier, Campground, Playground, Climbing rocks, Athletic fields (baseball, softball, soccer, football, multipurpose), Remote control airfield, Skateboard park, Volleyball court, Tennis court, Racquetball court, Basketball court, Rope course, Splash park, Swimming pool, Swimming area, Interactive music station, BMX bike track, Equestrian rink, Amphitheatre Dog park, Porch swing, Shuffleboard/bocce ball court, Roller hockey court