Investments will leverage more than $900 million for parks, trails and outdoor recreation projects nationwide
WASHINGTON – The Department of the Interior today announced the distribution of more than $327 million in formula grants and $134 million in competitive grants from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to all 50 states, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, a major investment in the parks, playgrounds, trails and open spaces that bring communities together across the country. These funds will be matched at least 1:1, for a total outdoor recreation investment of more than $900 million.
Permanently funded through President Donald J. Trump’s Great American Outdoors Act, the Land and Water Conservation Fund is one of the nation’s most successful conservation and recreation programs, helping communities create and improve outdoor spaces that enhance quality of life and expand access to recreation.
The funding, administered through the National Park Service, will support the development and rehabilitation of parks, conservation areas and outdoor recreation facilities in communities large and small. These investments will help expand access to outdoor recreation, improve visitor amenities and support projects that enhance quality of life for local residents.
“The Land and Water Conservation Fund has helped connect generations of Americans to the outdoors and remains one of our nation’s most successful conservation and recreation programs,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “We are grateful for President Trump’s leadership in permanently funding the fund through the Great American Outdoors Act. These investments are helping communities create and improve parks, trails and recreation opportunities while supporting local economies and ensuring future generations can enjoy the outdoors.”
For more than six decades, the Land and Water Conservation Fund has helped communities conserve natural resources and expand outdoor recreation opportunities. Since 1965, the program has funded more than 47,000 projects in nearly every county nationwide, supporting everything from neighborhood parks and athletic fields to trails, boat launches and public open spaces.
The funding also supports local economies by creating jobs, attracting tourism and expanding access to outdoor recreation opportunities that communities rely on. In urban neighborhoods, rural towns and growing suburban communities alike, Land and Water Conservation Fund investments help make the outdoors more accessible for everyone.
The National Park Service plays a critical role in supporting close-to-home recreation opportunities, helping states, tribes, and local communities invest in projects that reflect the needs of their communities.
Additional Funding Opportunities
The Department also announced new funding opportunities through two additional National Park Service grant programs that expand access to parks and outdoor recreation and support locally led conservation efforts nationwide. Together, the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program and the Readiness and Recreation Initiative will make up to $134 million available for the redevelopment or creation of new local parks and outdoor recreation spaces.
TheOutdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program will make up to $125 million available nationwide to support recreation projects in urban communities with limited access to the outdoors. Recent updates to the program, authorized through the EXPLORE Act, expand eligibility to federally recognized Native American tribes, Hawaiian and Alaska Native communities and broaden the number of eligible communities nationwide. Information on how to apply for the program’s grants can be found at grants.gov.
The National Park Service is also expanding technical assistance resources, including webinars and office hours, to help applicants develop competitive proposals.
The Readiness and Recreation Initiative will make up to $9 million available nationwide to support outdoor recreation projects that strengthen military readiness and protect mission-critical landscapes near eligible military installations and Sentinel Landscapes. Through a partnership with the Department of War’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program, qualifying projects may leverage funding from the initiative to meet matching requirements. Readiness and Recreation Initiative grants can be applied by following instructions on grants.gov.
In accordance with Secretary’s Order 3442, the National Park Service has also modernized the Land and Water Conservation Fund federal financial assistance manual and the fund’s State Assistance Program grant execution framework to reduce administrative burden, improve the timeliness of awards and reimbursements and sustain programmatic compliance as funding levels remain historically high. These updates will help states more efficiently deliver locally led conservation and outdoor recreation projects.
The Secretary of the Interior is proud to apportion these funds to help states evolve their outdoor recreation vision. Funding allocations are determined through a formula established in the Land and Water Conservation Fund, primarily based on population. States and territories then award funding to local governments for eligible conservation and outdoor recreation projects.
By investing in parks, open spaces and outdoor recreation infrastructure, the Land Water Conservation Fund continues to fulfill its long-standing mission of ensuring every American has access to the outdoors — not just in iconic national parks, but in the local parks and community spaces that shape everyday life for millions of families.
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