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Does the EPA fund splash pads through environmental-justice grants?
Quick answer
Yes — EPA's Environmental Justice Community Change Grants and Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) funds support projects that reduce heat-island and inequity in disadvantaged communities. Splash pads paired with tree-canopy and cooling-center work are competitive applications.
The EPA's Office of Environmental Justice funds projects that reduce environmental inequities in disadvantaged communities. The Inflation Reduction Act funded the Community Change Grants Program with $2 billion for environmental and climate-justice activities in 2024-2026, with awards from $10K to $20M. Splash pads alone aren't typically the centerpiece, but bundled into a community heat-resilience project — splash pad plus cooling center, plus tree canopy, plus shaded bus stops — they fit cleanly into 'climate action' and 'community resilience' priority categories. Tier 1 awards ($150K-$350K) work for splash-pad-anchored projects; Tier 2 awards ($1M-$20M) require collaborative partnerships with universities, nonprofits, or tribes. Eligible applicants include community-based nonprofits, tribes, local governments, and certain partnerships. Use the EPA's EJScreen tool to document your community's environmental burden. Check epa.gov/environmentaljustice for current Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) cycles.