City parks are vital to helping America’s cities thrive and remain competitive. Yet funding for these public assets is not meeting the growing demand.
City Parks Alliance develops policies and advocates for greater federal investment in city parks. The Alliance is at the forefront of identifying new funding sources and strategies to ensure equitable allocation of park funding throughout cities, and develops resources, such as the City Park Funding Hub, to help leaders support their local parks.
The bipartisan Mayors for Parks Coalition brings together mayors from across the country united by a shared understanding: parks are vital infrastructure that strengthen communities and drive economic growth. The Coalition advocates for increased federal funding for our nation’s city parks.
The Coalition supports increased funding for the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP), a program within LWCF that delivers funding to urban areas with priority given to projects located in economically disadvantaged areas and lacking in outdoor recreation opportunities.
The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program, established in 2014, is a nationally competitive grant program funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The ORLP focuses on providing outdoor recreation in disadvantaged communities within urban areas. The National Park Service has funds available for land acquisition, new park development, or the renovation of existing parks, all with the goal of reconnecting people with the outdoors.
On August 4, 2020 the Great American Outdoors Act was signed into law. The bill provides $900 million in permanent and dedicated annual funding for the Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and invests up to $9.5 billion to address priority repairs in our national parks and other public lands.
On December 19, 2024, Congress passed the EXPLORE Act, which contains the first – and only – dedicated and permanent city park legislation. The EXPLORE Act includes the Outdoors for All Act, which codifies the National Park Service Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) grant program.