The Land and Water Conservation Fund, part of the National Park Service, awards grants on a semi-annual basis to improve and increase outdoor recreation opportunities in economically disadvantaged communities. This is done via a sub-granting process in which each U.S. state or territory has a designated liaison office through which local communities can apply.

Applications directly from any other entity to the LWCF will automatically be rejected. Interested project sponsors should contact their liaison office to learn about state specific requirements. These state agencies select from among their applications and choose which to send on for federal review. Grants will not be awarded until a full review by the National Park Service is complete.

The LWCF expects to award 30 grants for a total of $192 million in 2023. They will do this in two rounds. The federal due date for Round 6A is 11:59 pm EST on January 31, 2023. Round 6B will be due at 11:59 pm EST on May 31, 2023. Please note that state due dates will be before the federal due date. It’s essential that interested applicants learn about their state’s grant process as soon as possible.

Grantees chosen during Round 6A should expect to receive their awards on September 1, 2023. Round 6B grantees should expect their awards on January 1, 2024. The maximum award amount is $10 million; the minimum is $300,000.

Eligibility

Applicant

Only officially designated state liaison offices may apply directly to the LWCF. Sub-grantees who apply to their state’s program may include local government, state agencies, and federally recognized Tribes.

Project

Projects must be located in a city with a population of 30,000 or more which serves communities with a poverty rate that is at least 20% and, at minimum, 10% higher than the surrounding city, county, and state levels.

These communities must also qualify as ‘park deserts.’ A park desert is a community with

• Zero existing parks within a 0.5 mile radius or
• One or two parks within a 0.5 mile radius which are insufficient to meet the needs of the population or
• One or two parks of any size that have been rendered unusable or of limited use due to deterioration or obsolete equipment or
• Parks with obstacles to use such as location, infrastructure, or geographic barriers.

Program Review Criteria

Extent of Outdoor Recreation and Economic Needs 

Priority will be given to projects in neighborhoods with the least usable and accessible outdoor recreation opportunities within the 0.5 mile radius and the largest affected population.

Appropriateness of Project to Meet Identified Community Outdoor Recreation Needs and Increase Access to Nature’s Benefits 

Priority will be given to projects that demonstrate the ability to have the greatest impact. Impact here is measured in terms of the increased number of people who have access to outdoor recreation. Preference will be given to projects that focus on increasing greenspace, tree cover, and access to the natural environment as well.

Community Involvement in, and Support of, Proposed Project 

Priority will be given to projects that demonstrate the greatest levels of collaboration with residents of the target neighborhood and the public and private sectors. Support for the project can also be demonstrated through donations of land, equipment, money, or labor as contributions to the grant matching requirement.

Embracing New Parks and Innovative Project Attributes 

Priority will be given to projects that have not received previous assistance from the National Parks Service and/or include innovative methods or components.

Project Alignment with Their State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) and Other Applicable Plans 

Priority will be given to projects that meet at least one clearly identified goal in their SCORP with an emphasis on goals related to economically disadvantaged communities and the project’s geographic area. Preference will also be given to projects that meet goals from other plans at various levels of government.

Project Feasibility and Likelihood of Success 

Priority will be given to projects that

• Demonstrate non-public support through monetary and/or in kind donations to the grant match
• Can start within one year and be accessed by the public within 2 or 3 years
• Are managed by individuals with a proven track record of successfully managing similar projects
• Demonstrate a plan for long-term park management and the ability to execute it

Allowable Costs

The expenses eligible for grant funding are quite broad provided they support the purchase and/or development of property for publicly available outdoor recreation. There are, however, certain restrictions. Grant funding may not be spent on

• Grant administration at the state office level
• Incidental costs such as property appraisals
• Operations and maintenance
• Facilities to be used by semi-professional or professional sports teams
• Indoor facilities that do not support outdoor recreation opportunities
• Acquisition of lands with use restricted to certain sectors of the population

Up to 25% of grant funds may be spent on administrative costs. This may include grant administration at the local level, financial management, or architectural and engineering services.

Matching Requirement

This grant requires a 1:1 match. Matching funds may be monetary or in-kind donations of land, labor, or supplies. These funds must be non-federal, but otherwise may come from any state and local government, private, or foundation sources. Costs incurred before the start of the grant may not be used for the match without approval from the state agency and the National Parks Service. Likewise, donations of cash, land, or services previously used as a match for a federal grant are not eligible.

All matching funds must be supported by a signed letter firmly committing the donation, submitted with the application.