Back to Hub

    Conservation Funding

    Parks and green space support public health, workforce development, local economies, the environment, and community cohesion. And yet, historic disinvestment has left many low-income communities and communities of color without quality parks and recreation opportunities. Federal and state park funding programs that prioritize investments in underserved communities contribute to closing the equity gap.

    Learn More

    Funding Sources

    • Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)

      Using zero taxpayer dollars, the Land and Water Conservation Fund invests earnings from offshore oil and gas leasing to protect land and water for national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges, and to provide matching grants for state and local park and recreation projects. LWCF is administered nationally by the National Park Service within the U.S. Department of the Interior.
      Eligibility for Accessing Funds
      Federal land management agencies
      Learn More

    • LWCF State and Local Funding

      The LWCF State Side program provides matching grants to create and expand parks, develop recreation facilities, and further local recreation plans. The first step is to contact the cooperating state office.
      Match from other sources
      100%
      Park Funding Use
      Capital/Land Acquisition
      Eligibility for Accessing Funds
      Public Agencies, including State, Local, and Tribal Governments, Districts
      Learn More

    • LWCF Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP)

      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. The Department of Interior opened the seventh application round with more than $224 million in grant funding for local communities across the United States. This is the largest grant funding round since the launch of the program. The eigth application round is now open. Additional information can be found here and apply here.

      Match from other sources
      100%
      Park Funding Use
      Capital/Land Acquisition
      Eligibility for Accessing Funds
      Local governments, Tribal governments, Districts
      Learn More
    Load More

    Additional Resources

    CPA ParkXChange Resource Library

    Conservation Resources for Urban Park Professionals

    Searchable library including cross-sector MOUs, equity action plans, agreements for park maintenance and operations, green infrastructure development and maintenance, community benefits, arts and cultural programming, guides and technical tools.

    Webinar - October, 2023

    Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Grants

    The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) is a nationally competitive grant program funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund that offers grants to help create and improve state and local parks, particularly in underserved communities.

    CPA Reports

    LWCF Reports: A Smart Investment in America's Health and Economy

    Two reports highlight how cities are using Land and Water Conservation Fund grants to create measurable environmental, economic, and public health returns on urban park investments.

    Article

    Looking for More Federal Civic Infrastructure Funding? We’ve Got Ideas.

    Percent for Place

    PDF

    May, 2020 Webinar Slides: Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program

    City Parks Alliance

    Infographics

    City Parks Are A Smart Investment For America's Health, Economy, & Environment

    City Parks Alliance

    Website

    Green Acres Success Stories, Canal State Park, NJ

    New Jersey, Department of Environmental Protection

    Website

    National Association of State Outdoor Recreation Liaison Officers

    National Association of State Outdoor Recreation Liaison Officers

    Case Studies

    Elizabeth City, NJ

    Elizabeth River Trail

    An urban wasteland finds new life thanks to public-private partnerships in Elizabeth City, NJ.

    Lawrence, MA

    Manchester Street Park

    A small town sees brownfield-to-park success, using diverse funding sources.

    FY14 Selected Projects

    LWCF Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program

    FY15/FY16 Selected Projects

    LWCF Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program

    FY17 Selected Projects

    LWCF Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program

    Close

    Parks and green space support public health, workforce development, local economies, the environment, and community cohesion. And yet, historic disinvestment has left many low-income communities and communities of color without quality parks and recreation opportunities. Federal and state park funding programs that prioritize investments in underserved communities contribute to closing the equity gap.

    The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is the primary source of federal funding for parks and conservation. LWCF funds city parks through the State Side Program and the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program, which provides grants specifically to cities for park projects in disadvantaged communities.

    In 2020, LWCF received a significant boost through the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act funding of $900 million per year, almost doubling federal funds for parks. Federal funding for urban parks in low-income communities is expected to increase substantially as a result.

    State and local funding sources continue to be essential for acquisition, development and restoration of urban parks. The model state and local programs identified in the Hub have equity criteria that ensure disadvantaged communities benefit from the investment.