County of Marin - News Releases - Partnerships with Parks

For Immediate Release
January 14, 2016

New Steps to Ensure Parks Available to All

Measure A funds support partnerships that encourage diversity of visitors

San Rafael, CA – Marin County Parks is embarking on a third year of a grant program designed to foster partnerships with local community organizations that lead to more Marin residents – especially the underserved – visiting and enjoying Marin County’s beautiful parks and open space preserves.

A group of about eight hikers pause on a trail and look up into the trees.Hikers enjoy nature at a Marin County Open Space preserve.
Local organizations committed to improving park and open space visitation are invited to apply for competitive grants totaling $153,040 through the Breathe Community Grant Program (Respira in Spanish). The program is funded by Measure A, otherwise known as the Marin Parks, Open Space, and Farmland Preservation Transactions and Use Tax Ordinance of 2012.

Letters of Inquiry will be accepted through February 26, followed by a review and selection period lasting several months. Grants will be awarded in partnership with the Parks and Open Space Commission and announced to the community following approval of grant agreements by the Marin County Board of Supervisors.

This grant program supports:

  • Expanding opportunities to access and enjoy Marin County parks and open space preserves
  • Bringing Marin County Parks’ outreach and programming into communities with limited access to these programs and public lands
  • Overcoming barriers, such as transportation and language, that prevent access to parks, preserves and programs

Grants focus on organizations that provide programs to underserved, high-risk, or vulnerable populations in Marin and promote health, wellness or environmental education in Marin’s communities. Eligible applicants include a town, city, county, 501(c)3 nonprofit, special district, joint

powers authority, community group, community-based organization, or emerging or existing coalition.

All qualifying criteria and funding restrictions, along with detailed information about the program and grant decision-making process, are available in the Breathe/Respira Measure A Community Grant Program Overview on the Measure A webpage.

Parks and open space preserves across Marin are being cared for like never before thanks to Measure A. A new annual report on Measure A projects and accomplishments is scheduled to be released in early February.

To find out more about the range of benefits this tax measure is bringing to your favorite outdoor places, check out the most recent Marin County Parks annual report at www.marincountyparks.org.

Contact:

Kevin Wright
Government Affairs Manager
Marin County Parks

Marin Civic Center
Suite 260
San Rafael, CA 94903
(415) 473-2129
Email: Kevin Wright
Marin County Parks website