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Arapahoe County staff recommend $4.51 million for open-space grants to parks, trails and courts
Summary
County open-space staff recommended funding 12 projects across Arapahoe County—totaling $4,510,919 in grant awards and leveraging more than $5 million in local matches—including trail connections, playground renovations, conversion of a parking lot to pickleball courts and small grants for museum amenities and planning.
Open-space staff told the Board of County Commissioners that the 2026 grant round produced about $4.5 million in requests and that staff recommends funding all 12 submitted applications, totaling $4,510,919 in county grants and more than $5 million in matching funds.
"Since 2005 we have invested more than $68,000,000 in more than 300 projects," the presenter said while describing the county's open-space sales-and-use tax (0.25%) and the portion allocated to the grant program. Staff explained the grant cycle (applications open in January and are due in April), eligibility (incorporated municipalities, recreation districts, special districts) and the evaluation steps that include site visits and reviewer rankings.
The recommended package includes standard grants (up to $600,000), small grants and a planning grant. Projects listed by staff include a Piney Creek Regional Trail connection, Bellevue Park playground renovation (Englewood), Arapahoe Station pickleball courts (Greenwood Village), several trail connections in Dove Valley and East Broncos Parkway, renovation at Heritage Village Park (Centennial), and smaller grants for museum site amenities and a reflection garden. Staff said the recommended awards would fund three renovated playgrounds, one parking-lot-to-park conversion, three trail connections, five new or improved courts and multiple accessibility and water-conservation elements.
During the presentation staff noted that nine of the district's evaluators recommended funding the Dove Valley/East Broncos Parkway trail connection despite two evaluators raising concerns that some of the work could be a developer responsibility; staff said easements and coordination would protect the county's investment. The board agreed to add the recommended package to the consent agenda for formal ratification.
