Land Preservation and Park Access Grants

The purpose of the Lands Preservation and Park Access Grant Program is to assist Cities, Towns and other qualifying organizations in the acquisition of open space and park properties that improve access to parks and preserve natural resources.

• To support the acquisition of land for the permanent protection of streams, bay lands, native ecosystems, habitat for special status species, and other natural or scenic areas with high resource values, or to improve access to parks and recreation facilities within Marin County.
• To support access to park and recreation experiences and the preservation of natural areas by qualified organizations.
• To the extent possible, leverage matching funds from public and private partners.

Parks Measure A is the primary source of the funding for Land Preservation Grants. Measure A (Marin County Ordinance 3760) allocates 10% of Parks and Open Space annual Measure A tax revenue for preservation of natural lands and improving access to park and recreation facilities.

The County intends these grants to be used as "seed money"; to assist qualified organizations in their fund-raising efforts. To the maximum extent possible, the Qualifying Organizations shall use Measure A funds to leverage money from other sources, including private and public donations and grants.

Generally, a Land Preservation Grant will fund approximately 50% of the land acquisition price or $100,000, whichever is lower, with the remaining funding coming from other sources. The County of Marin may make exceptions for high priority acquisitions.

These grants are subject to the availability of Measure A funds. The Measure A sales tax expires in October 2031; Measure A Program funds may be available for a limited amount of time afterward until funds are exhausted.

For purposes of the Lands Preservation and Park Access Grant Program, a Qualified Organization includes:

• Incorporated City or Town within Marin County
• A special district, or similar organization, within Marin County established under state law for the purposes of protecting of natural, cultural, historic, and scenic resources
• An organization qualified under Internal Revenue Code Sections 501(c)(3) and 170(h) whose primary purpose is the preservation and protection of open space, natural resources, historic and cultural values, recreational use, and scenic areas
• For the acquisition of conservation easements, the qualified organization must demonstrate the ability to monitor and enforce the easement in accordance with Land Trust Alliance Standards and Practices
• An organization qualified under Internal Revenue Code Sections 501(c)(3) and 170(h) whose primary purpose is to be a community-based organization representing communities of color and/or low-income communities, Indigenous communities and Tribal governments.

In reviewing potential grants, the County of Marin shall consider the project’s consistency with the following plans and policies:

• Marin Countywide Plan
• Marin County Local Coastal Program
• Marin County Parks Strategic Plan
• Marin County Parks’ Real Property Acquisition Policies
• Priority Conservation Areas, as described in Plan Bay Area
• Marin County Race Equity Budget Tool
• Other programs, plans, and policies adopted by public resources or regulatory agencies

All grant applications must include the following.

• Completed Grant Application Checklist
• Completed Grant Application Cover Sheet
• Executive Summary (1 page maximum)
• Project Map including, general location, aerial photos, and topographic maps
• Parcel or easement boundary maps (May be combined with Project Location Map).
• Representative photos of land showing notable features
• Project Budget
• Project Implementation Schedule
• Letter of intent or purchase agreement confirming willing seller. (See sample letter.)
• Letters of support from any cooperating or supporting entities (may include individuals, government entities, funders or community organizations)
• Acquisition Summary Sheet
• Project Specification (4 page maximum)
• Preliminary Title Report
• Draft grant deed or easement (may be provided separately prior to closing, if application is for purchase of an easement)
• Appraisal and other appraisal related documentation, as applicable, related to all appraisal assignments commissioned or completed during the 24 months preceding the application date.
• Purchase Agreement (if applicable)
• Escrow Instructions
• Easement Monitoring and Reporting Summary (may be provided separately prior to closing, if application is for purchase of an easement)
• Baseline Conditions Report consistent with Land Trust Alliance standards (may be provided separately prior to closing, if application is for purchase of an easement)

A non-profit organization must also include:

• A copy of organization’s IRS 501(c)3 or 170(h) status
• A copy of organization’s Articles of Incorporation

During the application process the County of Marin may request additional information as needed to conduct appropriate due diligence.

Interested applicants may direct all questions about the grant program, including questions regarding the grant application, to Marin County Parks Senior Planner Craig Richardson, at crrichardson@marincounty.org.

1. Applicant contacts the Marin County Parks Staff to arrange a meeting to discuss a proposed acquisition project.
2. Marin County Parks staff and applicant meet to discuss project proposal. Applicant is provided with application materials and is assigned a staff contact who will guide the applicant through the process.
3. Upon submittal of the application, Marin County Parks reviews the application for completeness and content, completes the assessment process, conducts any necessary site visits, and proceeds with compiling other additional information necessary to make a preliminary recommendation.
4. The County informs applicant of its preliminary recommendation. This recommendation is preliminary and will be contingent on Marin County Park’s review of the appraisal and other project documents discussed below.
5. The applicant obtains an appraisal, consistent with requirements outlined in Item 1 of General Program Requirements above.
6. Applicant must provide documentation of any appraisal assignments 1) related to the subject property; and 2) commissioned or completed during the 24 months preceding the application date. Marin County Parks may require a new appraisal if the completion date of the most recent appraisal on file is over one year from the execution date of the purchase agreement. Should a revised appraisal be required for any reason, the applicant shall submit a letter that explains the reason or justification.
7. Marin County Parks reviews, with assistance from the County Department of Public Works, Real Estate Division, all real estate related documents, including, but not limited to, the appraisal, purchase agreement, deed restriction, conservation easement and escrow instructions.
8. If any pertinent information must be re-submitted due to a change in circumstance by the applicant, the applicant will provide a letter that explains the reason or justification. If the grant amount request changes the applicant shall re-submit the full application.
9. Staff presents the grant application to the Parks and Open Space Commission (POSC) at a regularly scheduled meeting for its consideration. The POSC will be asked to make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors.
10. Marin County Parks prepares a grant agreement and final recommendation to the Marin County Board of Supervisors.
11. Proposed grant agreements will be considered at regularly scheduled public meetings of the Board of Supervisors. Applicants should plan to attend the meeting(s) at which their agreement is being considered.
12. Execution of the agreement by Board president on behalf of County, shall not be more than one (1) year from the date of the appraisal. Escrow shall close within 90 days of the execution of the agreement, unless otherwise agreed upon by the County.
13. Grantee submits an Easement Monitoring and Reporting Plan and a baseline conditions report if purchasing an easement and any remaining final documentation required under this grant program. Marin County Parks reviews and approves both the plan and report.
14. Marin County Parks will disburse matching funds directly into an escrow account established for the acquisition upon completion of the grant requirements by the applicant.

A Land Preservation and Park Access Grant is subject to the following requirements.

• The purchase price of any interest in land may not exceed fair market value, as established by an appraisal prepared by an MAI (Member, Appraisal Institute) appraiser and reviewed and approved by the County. The applicant shall finalize or update the appraisal within 12 months of the date of execution of a purchase agreement for the property. The Marin County Department of Public Works – Real Estate Section shall review and approve all appraisals.
• Grant awardees typically have one year to secure the additional funding needed to complete a acquisition.
• Real property interests shall be acquired only from willing sellers.
• Real property acquisitions shall provide for the protection of open space and resource values, or park and recreation facilities in perpetuity either through deed restriction, conservation easement or other means approved by the County.
• Easements shall include provisions to protect water quality, habitat, scenic, cultural, historic, recreational values on the property.
• Before granting any funds, the County of Marin may consider the following due diligence. The County of Marin may also consider other relevant information necessary to evaluate a specific acquisition.
  • Information on the property, including current use, zoning, and structures
  • Title report
  • Appraisal
  • Phase 1 Environmental Assessment
  • Geotechnical Reconnaissance Report, for acquisition in areas with a high potential for landslides or other geologic hazards
• Real property interests shall name the County, the Marin County Open Space District, or a public entity approved by the County, as a back-up owner in the event the original owner ceases to exist or to be a qualified organization, and if there is no other public agency that assumes such a role.
• The Open Space Director shall approve the form of the grant deed, easement deed, deed restriction,or other type of deed used to acquire land pursuant to the Grant Program.
• The holder of any conservation easements acquired pursuant to this Grant Program shall agree to monitor and enforce the easements in accordance with the Land Trust Alliance Land Standards and Practices, as such standards and practices may be amended from time to time.
• The holder of any conservation easements acquired pursuant to this Grant Program shall agree to monitor and enforce the easements in accordance with the Land Trust Alliance Land Standards and Practices, as such standards and practices may be amended from time to time.
• The applicant must enter into a grant agreement with the County before Marin County Parks disburses funding.

Grant applications are accepted by email. Marin County Parks will acknowledge receipt of all applications.

• When e-mailing your application, please submit all documents in pdf format
• E-mail your application to your assigned staff contact

Grant applications are accepted at any time.

• Marin County Parks planning staff work closely with qualifying organizations throughout the application process, and after the funding is awarded. After a qualifying organization meets initial criteria for consideration, a staff member is assigned as the County liaison.
• If technical assistance needs arise in the exploration of priorities, Marin County Parks staff will work directly with that community and suitable partners to provide technical assistance toward the success of the acquisition.

$100,000 to Marin Open Space Trust for Upper Hawthorne Canyon

$28,500 to Marin Audubon for a Black Point wetland

$100,000 to Marin Audubon for Corte Madera Marsh