Body of News Release
Marin County, CA - This summer, the County of Marin will again award up to $200,000 in Parks Measure A funding to community organizations to help overcome barriers and connect communities to parks. The maximum grant is $10,000 per award.
For the past 12 years, the Breathe Community Grant Program (Respira in Spanish), overseen by Marin County Parks, has provided thousands of residents with wellness programs and other community services in outdoor settings. Marin County Parks enhances access in partnership with grantees by providing mobility devices and improved features at places like Roy’s Redwoods Open Space Preserve. When people are introduced to new park locations, they are more likely to return with family and friends. This year, grantee organizations are leading outdoor experiences for residents of all ages and backgrounds, including:
- Marin City Health and Wellness Center is providing weekly therapeutic outdoor programs at Rocky Graham Park, led by a nurse practitioner, for clinic patients, targeting seniors, public housing residents, unhoused, diabetics, and those with chronic pain or illness.
- WildCare, the San Rafael nature education center and wildlife hospital, is providing free wildlife outings at Ring Mountain Open Space Preserve for first- through fifth-graders.
- Canal Mini Soccer League is utilizing the new year-round fields at Pickleweed Park and ensuring all Canal Neighborhood youth can participate in local soccer programs over the next year.
Established in 2014, the Breathe/Respira program breaks down barriers faced by some residents in visiting the County’s outdoor facilities. Through May 8, local community organizations are invited to apply for competitive grants by completing an online form.
Comprehensive details on application procedures, eligibility criteria, funding restrictions, and the grant decision-making process are available in the FAQ section on the Breathe/Respira Measure A Community Grant Program webpage. Grants will be offered on a reimbursement basis.
Parks will consider funding projects or programs that benefit underserved communities, provided these communities are clearly described in relation to the Breathe/Respira program. Proposals will be reviewed after the May 8 application deadline. Grant recommendations will be made in July, in partnership with the Parks and Open Space Commission, and announced in September after approval of grant agreements by the Board of Supervisors.
To find out more about the range of benefits this tax measure is bringing to your favorite outdoor places, check out the current Measure A annual report.