New York Building Recreational Infrastructure for Communities, Kids and Seniors
(NY BRICKS)
On August 31, 2026, Governor Hochul announced the launch of the second round of the Building Recreational Infrastructure for Communities, Kids and Seniors (NY BRICKS) capital grant program, making $75 million available to municipalities and nonprofit organizations to build, renovate and modernize community centers across New York State. Governor Hochul secured the funding in the FY2027 Enacted Budget to support community centers that promote physical health, mental well-being and connections among youth and older adults. The second round of NY BRICKS will provide grants ranging from $250,000 to $15 million, with priority given to projects in underserved communities.
Click here to read press release
Applications will be accepted through the DASNY Grants Application Portal beginning Nov. 2 and must be submitted by 3 p.m. Dec. 7, 2026. Awards are expected to be announced no earlier than Feb. 26, 2027.
Appendix 1 - NY BRICKS Round 2 Application Preparation Worksheet
Appendix 2 - NY BRICKS Round 2 Application Program Specific Questions
Appendix 3- NY BRICKS R2- Application Certification
Appendix 4 - NY BRICKS R2 Municipal Site Control Certification
Appendix 5 - NY BRICKS Round 2 FAQ
Appendix 6 - Sample Grant Disbursement Agreement NY BRICKS
Appendix 7 – NY BRICKS R2 GDA Prerequisites and Instructions
Appendix 8- NY BRICKS Round 2 - Scoring Matrix
Round 1 Announcement - December 5, 2025
On December 5, 2025, Governor Hohcul announced 30 awards totaling $100 million through the Building Recreational Infrastructure for Communities, Kids and Seniors (NY BRICKS) capital grant program. The grants will support municipalities and nonprofit organizations across New York State in building or renovating community centers that promote physical health, mental well-being, and community connections for youth and older adults. The awards, which will benefit nearly 400,000 New Yorkers across the State, are funded from the $100 million NY BRICKS program, which Governor Hochul secured in the FY 2026 Enacted Budget.
Click here for full list of awardees.
About NY BRICKS & Governor Hochul's Unplug & Play Initiative
The Governor's new Unplug and Play initiative earmarks $100 million for the construction and renovation of community centers through the Build Recreational Infrastructure for Communities, Kids and Seniors (NY BRICKS); $67.5 million for the Places for Learning, Activity and Youth Socialization (NY PLAYS) initiative helping New York communities construct new playgrounds and renovate existing playgrounds; and an additional $90 million for the continuation of the Statewide Investment in More Swimming (NY SWIMS) initiative including $50 million for a competitive grant program supporting municipalities in the renovation and construction of swimming facilities and $40 million for other swimming-based investments. Additionally, “Get Offline, Get Outside,” is an initiative launched by Governor Hochul to promote physical and mental health by encouraging kids and families to put down their screens, take a break from social media, enjoy recreation and the outdoors, and put their mental and physical health first.
Read the full press release here.