Groundwork - Brownfield to Greenspace
Active
- Assistance listing
- 15.965
- Agency
-
National Park Service
Department of the Interior
- Grant awards
- 8 $1,551,653 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- Groundwork
- Assistance type
-
- Cooperative Agreement
- Treasury account
-
- 14-1042-0-1-303
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The National Park Service under the Department of the Interior administers Groundwork — Brownfield to Greenspace (CFDA 15.965), a program that funds transformation of vacant and blighted lands into parks, trails, and greenspace through capacity building for nonprofit Groundwork Trusts and community-led land reuse projects, with the most recent award issued July 25, 2025.
The program has distributed eight awards totaling $1.6 million in federal dollars since March 2024, with six awards made in 2024 and two in 2025. All awards take the form of Cooperative Agreements, indicating direct partnership between the National Park Service and recipients on project execution and oversight. Award magnitudes range from $50 thousand to $497 thousand, with typical capacity-building and project support awards in the $100 thousand to $350 thousand range. The National Park Service National Office is the sole funding source across the entire portfolio.
Recent awards illustrate the program's scope. Groundwork USA received a $497 thousand Cooperative Agreement (P24AC00546) for a two-year Land Use Innovation Grants program that will distribute funds to five to eight local groups for brownfield reuse planning, partnership building, and site transformation, with technical assistance and progress monitoring. Groundwork Erie received $134 thousand (P25AC01209) to support planning and engagement for the Erie Bayfront Greenway, workforce development programming, and land reuse activities. Groundwork USA Network Development received $350 thousand (P25AC00516) to deliver technical assistance and guidance to locally-based organizations undertaking brownfield revitalization projects.
Eligible applicants are private nonprofit organizations and local government agencies with interest in brownfield reuse as parks, trails, and greenspace. Pre-application coordination is required. The program description does not specify recently posted grant opportunities; applicants should monitor grants.gov for funding announcements, which the National Park Service indicates will include specific evaluation criteria and project-type details at the time of posting.
Objective and description
- Objective
Groundwork furthers the mission of the National Park Service by extending the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation to underserved urban areas. The Program provides financial and technical assistance to support
- Description
This assistance supports, 1) the creation of nonprofit Groundwork Trusts and their transformation of brownfields and neglected lands and waters into parks, trails, and green space; 2) projects and programs that engage youth and community members in land reuse and environmental justice; and 3) capacity building activities for Groundwork Trusts.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
Private nonprofit organizations and local government agencies with interest in brownfield reuse as parks, trails, and greenspace.
- Uses of assistance
Funds may be used for transforming brownfields and neglected lands and waters into parks, trails, and greenspace for public benefit.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Assistance length and time depends on project complexity, not to exceed five years.
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Specific evaluation criteria will be included in the funding announcements posted on www.grants.gov. Organizational activities, projects, and programs must further the transformation of brownfields and neglected lands and waters into parks, trails, greenspace, and other community amenities.
- Award procedure
Proposals received in response announcements on grants.gov are reviewed on the basis of a competitive, merit-based review process, and are rated in accordance with the evaluation criteria stated in the announcement. Awards may be made to the highest rated proposals based on the amount of funding available each year.
- Time to approval or disapproval
Varies depending on the type and complexity of the project. Further information will be available for each specific project at the time the funding opportunity announcement is posted on www.grants.gov and may be obtained by contacting the Program Manager listed as the point of contact. Generally 30 - 120 days.
- Renewals
If renewals or extensions are applicable to the project, this information will be included in the funding opportunity announcement. When renewals or extensions are applicable, continuation of funding for these activities is at the discretion of Congress and will be subject to availability of appropriated funds.
- Appeals
None. Final award decisions are not subject to appeal; however, the National Park Service will provide applicants with information on why their proposals were not selected for award, upon request.
Grant awards
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Groundwork USA Inc. | $1,551,653 | 100% |
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2025 | $594,264 |
| FY2024 | $957,389 |
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 15.965?
Assistance Listing 15.965 is Groundwork - Brownfield to Greenspace, a federal grant program run by National Park Service (Department of the Interior).
What is the CFDA number for Groundwork - Brownfield to Greenspace?
Its CFDA number is 15.965: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 15.965 awarded?
8 grant awards under 15.965 have obligated $1,551,653 in federal funds to 1 recipient.
Who receives the most funding from 15.965?
The recipients obligated the most under Groundwork - Brownfield to Greenspace are Groundwork USA Inc. ($1,551,653).
How much did 15.965 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 15.965 obligated $594,264 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
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