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City Parks & Open Spaces

City Parks and Open Space (15% of REAP funds) - This money is available to cities through competitive grants. Three (3) city size categories and grant amount ceilings have been established to assure grants are distributed to all sizes of cities.

REAP funds (derived from gaming revenues) are appropriated by the Iowa Legislature and signed into law by the Governor. City Park and Open Space grant applications are due annually on August 15th at 4:30 pm.  The application materials are available at the bottom of this page.

These grants are 100%, so local matching funds are not required. This grant program is very competitive. Funds are not available for single or multipurpose athletic fields, baseball or softball diamonds, tennis courts, golf courses, and other organized sport facilities. Swimming pools and playground equipment are also ineligible. Parkland expansion and multi-purpose recreation developments are typical projects funded under this REAP program. The DNR administers the city grant program. City officials representing the Iowa Park and Recreation Association and League of Cities select which projects receive funding.

Projects must be completed within two years of the grant award. 90% of funds can be requested at the time a grant agreement is signed and the remaining 10% will be awarded upon successful completion of the project.


REAP City Grant Applications

2023 Update: REAP City Parks & Open Spaces Grants will be submitted through SlideRoom at the link below.  If there are questions, about grant requirements or the application components please direct them to Michelle.Wilson@dnr.iowa.gov.  If you have difficulties with SlideRoom functionality, please use the help desk option in the portal for assistance.  

REAP City Grant Application - SlideRoom

For acquisition projects:


REAP Coordinator

Contact person:
Michelle Wilson, REAP Coordinator
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Wallace State Office Building
Des Moines, IA 50319
phone: 515-446-0535

Michelle.Wilson@dnr.iowa.gov


Grant Money Allocation

The amount of REAP grant money available to a city depends on population. The population categories and respective grant amount ceilings are shown below:


Population Maximum
0 - 1,000 $ 50,000
1,001 - 5,000 $ 75,000
5,001 - 10,000 $100,000
10,001 - 25,000 $125,000
25,001 - 50,000 $150,000
50,001 - 75,000 $200,000
Over 75,000 $300,000

Information on the Fiscal Year 2023 grant awards:

FY 23 REAP City Grant Awards and Descriptions


Population    Amount Requested 2022 (FY23)
Available Funding
# of Projects Scored # of Projects Funded
0 - 2,000 $548,611 $259,865 9 5
2,000-25,000 $1,510,000 $623,6731 16 8
Over 25,000 $1,693,890 $848,888 8 5
Total: $3,752,501 $1,732,426 33 19

REAP Funding Locations

To view the cities that have received REAP funding and learn about the type of projects in your area, click on a city below and then a dot to read the project description, sponsor, and funding received: