Zoos, Botanical Gardens and Aquaria Capital Grant Program
The Zoos, Botanical Gardens and Aquaria (ZBGA) Capital Grant Program provides eligible local governments and not-for-profit organizations funding to undertake strategic capital improvements to their facilities to help deliver on their missions, contribute economic benefit to their local areas, and provide their communities with robust educational programs and natural heritage collections in a safe and accessible environment. Through the ZBGA Capital Program, the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation (OPRHP) will make strategic investments in those facilities to:
- Attract visitors to the state and ensure that New York State’s residents and visitors have access to natural heritage collections;
- Sustain and grow the zoo, botanical gardens and aquaria’s critical sector of New York’s economy;
- Advance environmental sustainability, health, and safety; and
- Provide capital investments that contribute to local community development efforts.
The ZBGA Capital Grant Program is funded through an appropriation from the New York State and is administered by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP). This grant program is administered on a reimbursement basis. Successful applicants will be expected to fund project expenditures upfront, then submit for reimbursement. Applicants must plan their financial arrangements accordingly. OPRHP does not guarantee grant support in any succeeding year.
Full guidelines can be found in the Forms and Documents section below.
How to Apply
Check back Spring/Early Summer 2025
Forms and Documents
- Request for Applications (pdf)
- ZBGA Blank Cost Summary Template (xlsx)
- ZBGA Cost Summary SAMPLE/EXAMPLE (pdf)
- ZBGA Capital – Progress Report (pdf)
- Owner Certification – template (doc)
- Grantee Certification (pdf)
- State Aid Voucher (pdf)
Contact
General ZBGA Inquiries: email ZBGAGrants@parks.ny.gov
-or-
For specific project inquiries, contact your Regional Grants Administrator assigned to the county in which your project is located:
Capital Region
Counties: Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren & Washington
Erin Drost
NYS OPRHP Taconic Regional Office
9 Old Post Road
Staatsburg, NY 12580
Office (845)889-3866 | Cell (845)489-8223 | Fax (845)889-8321
erin.drost@parks.ny.gov
Central New York Region
Counties: Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga & Oswego
Nicole Freeman
Clark Reservation State Park
6105 East Seneca Turnpike
Jamesville, NY 13078
Office (315)492-1756 | Cell (315)630-8128 | Fax (315)492-3277
nicole.freeman@parks.ny.gov
Finger Lakes Region
Counties: Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming & Yates
Kate Badgley
Beaver Island State Park
Park Office
103 Commission House Road
Office (716)773-5292 | Cell (716)961-8025 | Fax (716)773-4150
kate.badgley@parks.ny.gov
Long Island Region
Counties: Nassau & Suffolk
Traci Christian
Belmont Lake State Park
PO Box 247
Babylon, NY 11702
Office (631)321-3543 | Fax (631)321-3721
traci.christian@parks.ny.gov
Mid-Hudson Region
Counties: Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster & Westchester
Erin Drost
NYS OPRHP Taconic Regional Office
9 Old Post Road
Staatsburg, NY 12580
Office (845)889-3866 | Cell (845)489-8223 | Fax (845)889-8321
erin.drost@parks.ny.gov
Mohawk Valley Region
Counties: Fulton, Herkimer, Montgomery, Oneida, Otsego & Schoharie
Sunshine Jenkins
Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site
Union Hotel
PO Box 539, 401 W Main Street
Sackets Harbor, NY 13685
Office (315)740-8100 | Fax (315)482-9413
sunshine.jenkins@parks.ny.gov
New York City Region
Counties: Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, & Richmond
Traci Christian
Belmont Lake State Park
PO Box 247
Babylon, NY 11702
Office (631)321-3543 | Fax (631)321-3721
traci.christian@parks.ny.gov
North Country Region
Counties: Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis & St. Lawrence
Sunshine Jenkins
Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site
Union Hotel
PO Box 539, 401 W Main Street
Sackets Harbor, NY 13685
Office (315)740-8100 | Fax (315)482-9413
sunshine.jenkins@parks.ny.gov
Southern Tier Region
Counties: Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Delaware, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga & Tompkins
Amanda Marsh
2221 Taughannock Park Road
Trumansburg, NY 14886
Office (607)387-7041 | Cell (607)592-9830 | Fax (607)387-3390
amanda.marsh@parks.ny.gov
Western New York Region
Counties: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie & Niagara
Kate Badgley
Beaver Island State Park
Park Office
103 Commission House Road
Office (716)773-5292 | Cell (716)961-8025 | Fax (716)773-4150
kate.badgley@parks.ny.gov