The Aquidneck Island Land Trust is now accepting applications for its Merritt Neighborhood Fund community grant program, with a deadline of March 13.
The endowed fund, established in 1999 to honor the late Peter M. Merritt, the Land Trust’s president emeritus, supports the preservation of small parks, community gardens and other natural spaces on Aquidneck Island. Grants of up to $2,500 are available to projects that strengthen community identity and character and reflect an ethic of land conservation and stewardship through volunteerism.
“The Merritt Neighborhood Fund grants help our community to improve and beautify many of the special shared places on our Island,” said Terry Sullivan, the Land Trust’s executive director. “The fund supports projects that enrich the lives of residents and help us all feel closer to nature.”
In the 2025 grant cycle, awards went to Aquidneck Elementary School for a learning garden expansion and ADA-accessible garden beds; Hawk & Handsaw Farm for community picnic table materials; Newport Tree Conservancy for a 100-tree planting at Miantonomi Memorial Park; Norman Bird Sanctuary for improved deer fencing around its Hügelkultur garden; Portsmouth Dog Park for dog-friendly and native plants along an expansion trail; and the Town of Portsmouth for an ADA-accessible picnic table and park bench at Glen Park Playground.
Award decisions for the 2026 cycle will be made by the end of April. Applications are available at ailt.org and must be submitted by March 13.
The Aquidneck Island Land Trust, founded in 1990, has conserved 2,854 acres on 102 properties across Aquidneck Island. It is the first land trust in Rhode Island to receive national accreditation. The organization is located at 790 Aquidneck Ave. in Middletown. For more information, contact Leah Kossak at lkossak@ailt.org or 401-849-2799, ext. 113.
