Ohio Denies Parkour Facility Sports Grant Amid Legal Uncertainty

Maumee's Monkey Business Parkour excluded from $400 million state program

Mar. 14, 2026 at 2:06pm

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The Ohio Office of Budget and Management has denied a sports facility grant to Monkey Business Parkour, a parkour training center in Maumee, citing legal uncertainty around the state's new $400 million program to fund athletic venues.

Why it matters

The denial highlights the challenges facing alternative sports like parkour as they seek public funding and recognition on par with traditional sports. It also underscores the legal and regulatory hurdles Ohio faces in implementing its new sports facility grant program.

The details

Monkey Business Parkour, a parkour training facility in Maumee, Ohio, applied for a grant from the state's new $400 million sports facility program. However, the Ohio Office of Budget and Management denied the application, stating that parkour's legal status as a sport is unclear, making the facility ineligible for the grants.

  • The $400 million sports facility grant program was created in Ohio's latest state operating budget.
  • Monkey Business Parkour applied for a grant from the program in early 2026.

The players

Monkey Business Parkour

A parkour training facility located in Maumee, Ohio.

Ohio Office of Budget and Management

The state agency responsible for administering Ohio's $400 million sports facility grant program.

Kim Murnieks

The director of the Ohio Office of Budget and Management.

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What they’re saying

“Monkey Business Parkour is not eligible for even a small piece of the $400 million in sports facility grants created in the state operating budget.”

— Kim Murnieks, Director, Ohio Office of Budget and Management (Toledo Blade)

What’s next

The Monkey Business Parkour facility plans to appeal the decision and continue advocating for parkour to be recognized as an eligible sport for the state's sports facility grants.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges alternative sports like parkour face in gaining equal footing and funding compared to traditional sports, even as they grow in popularity. It also underscores the legal complexities Ohio must navigate in implementing its new sports facility grant program.