The Department of the Interior (DOI) will distribute roughly $461 million in formula and competitive grants to fund park, playground, trail and open space initiatives across the nation. From that amount. Recipients are required to match funds at a 1:1 ratio, bringing the total combined investment to around $922 million.
The National Park Service (NPS) will administer $327 million through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), prioritizing efforts to develop and rehabilitate parks, conservation areas and outdoor recreation facilities in communities of all sizes. In addition, the DOI will provide the remaining $134 million through two new funding opportunities designed to expand outdoor access, conserve lands and wildlife habitat and strengthen community resilience.
States receiving the largest allocations through the LWCF for Fiscal Year 2026 include:
- California – $27.6 million.
- Texas – $19.8 million.
- Florida – $15.9 million.
- New York – $14.7 million.
- Illinois – $10.2 million.
Apart from the LWCF, the DOI has released the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for two grant programs: the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program and the Readiness and Recreation Initiative (RARI).
The ORLP will make $125 million available to enhance recreation opportunities in rural and urban communities, prioritizing those with limited access to the outdoors. Awards can be used to buy land and water for parks and other outdoor recreation purposes as well as developing new or renovating existing outdoor recreation facilities.
State and territorial lead agencies in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and various U.S. territories are eligible for awards. Subrecipients allowed to apply through their lead agencies include Indian tribes, cities, counties, native Hawaiian communities or organizations and Alaska native corporations and organizations.
All projects must be located in qualifying areas. These include a single urban area with a population of 25,000 or two or more adjacet urban areas with a combined population of 25,000 or more. Awards have a maximum ceiling of $15 million per recipient. Applications are due by Nov. 1 annually through 2030.
The RARI will provide the remaining $9 million to support outdoor recreation initiatives that will strengthen military readiness and protect mission-critical landscapes. Recipients must use the funding to provide outdoor recreation opportunities and promote or support compatible land uses and avoid incompatible development areas in the vicinity of, or ecologically related to, a military installation or military airspace and/or to enhance disaster resilience.
To be eligible, projects must:
- Include a land acquisition component.
- Be in a Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Partnership Opportunity Area or Sentinel Landscape.
- Have a letter of support from a military installation or range commander.
Awards have a maximum $3 million ceiling per recipient. Applications are due by Nov. 30 annually through 2030.
Photo by Daria Agafonova from Pexels
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