Q. Who can apply?
A. That depends on the type of project.
Conservation Acquisitions:
- Municipal conservation commissions and community preservation commissions
Park Projects:
- Municipal park departments or park commissions
Q. I'm a member of a nonprofit organization. Are we eligible to apply?
A. Not directly, but your organization could partner with the appropriate town or city agency.
Q. Does the community also need to meet eligibility requirements?
A. Yes - each applicant must have a current
open space and recreation plan 
on file with DCS. Review the information regarding the current status of your community's open space and recreation plan ( see
Current status of municipal open space plans 
. In addition, any community that has an unresolved "parkland" conversion issue with EEA is ineligible to apply.
Q. How much money is available under each program?
A. The total amount awarded under each program varies year to year, as does the maximum grant award offered to each community. The maximum grant award for the FY2013 is $400,000, regardless of the grant program.
Q. Is every project eligible to receive the maximum grant of $400,000?
A. No, each reimbursement is a calculation based on the community's equalized valuation per capita decile ranking. This sliding scale provides for a larger reimbursement percentage for a less affluent community.
Check here for for your community's 2010 reimbursement rate.
Q. We've already purchased our land, can we still be reimbursed?
A. No, so be sure not to purchase the property unless you have a signed contract from DCS.
Q. We've already started our park development project, can we be reimbursed?
A. No, so be sure not to start your project unless you have a signed contract from DCS.
Q. Our project involves the donation of land. May we use that as part of the municipal "share" of the total project cost?
A. Unfortunately, we cannot count the land value towards the project's eligible costs for the PARC or LAND grant programs. The regulations for both the PARC and LAND programs state that we reimburse the acquisition cost based on approved appraised value or actual purchase price, whichever is less.
Q. Will you fund a playground on school property?
A. No, facilities on school department land are not eligible projects. This is because that land is not legally dedicated to park use. Therefore the playground could easily be eliminated by a school expansion project, and the grant investment would be lost.
Q. If DCS funds our project, does the state then own the property?
A. No - the city or town owns the conservation area or parkland. However, the land is legally protected open space.
Q. What is legally protected open space?
A. Land owned by private, public and nonprofit owners may be permanently protected open space ( Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA)), provided that they have been dedicated to such uses as conservation or recreational use by deed. Municipal properties may also be protected via the Town Meeting Vote or City Council Order to acquire them. Article 97 refers to Article 97 of the Articles of Amendment to the State Constitution.
Q. How does my community apply?
A. Visit the PARC or LAND portion of our website to obtain the necessary application forms and documents, and information on our free "How to Apply" workshop.
Q. May property be acquired using the authority of an eminent domain taking?
A. Yes - it's possible to acquire land this way through either program. If it is done, it is often done as a "friendly taking" to clear title. That's why it's important to research title now, rather than discover next spring that clear title is not possible and the project sadly fails.
If you don't see your question answered, please contact us!
Massachusetts Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity (LAND) Program
Contact:
Celia Riechel
(617) 626-1187
celia.riechel@state.ma.us
Massachusetts Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC) Program
Contact:
Melissa Cryan
(617) 626-1171
melissa.cryan@state.ma.us
This information is provided by the Division of Conservation Services