The “Land and Water Conservation Fund” (LWCF) is offered annually through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).
Donor Name: Illinois Department of Natural Resources
State: Illinois
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/22/2024
Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
The LWCF program is a grant program that provides up to 50% funding assistance to eligible, local units of government to acquire land for public outdoor recreation areas.
Funding Information
Funding assistance is up to 50% of eligible expenses. Grant awards of up to $1,725,000.00 are available for acquisition projects.
IDNR policy limits annual LWCF grant awards to a maximum of $750,000 per acquisition project.
- Counties serving a population exceeding 2.0 million residents shall be eligible for up to $1.15 million in annual LWCF funding for approved outdoor recreation acquisition projects.
- Municipalities with a population exceeding 2.0 million residents are eligible for up to $2.3 million in annual LWCF funding for approved projects.
Grant Period
The LWCF agreement will provide for a 2-year timeframe, however, it is recommended that the acquisition be completed in one year.
Eligible Projects
Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Areas providing frontage on public surface waters or land for creating public water impoundments to promote water-based recreation opportunities.
- Areas of outstanding natural quality where the objective is to preserve the scenic or natural values, including areas of physical or biological importance such as pristine natural areas, sites protecting threatened or endangered species, flood plains, wetlands, geological features, wildlife habitats, or scenic waters, etc.
- Areas for general purpose, public outdoor recreation use such as neighborhood and community park areas, play fields and competitive, non-professional sports facilities, as well as public parklands for passive recreation uses.
- Additions to existing parks, wildlife areas, nature preserves, beaches, and greenways or parkways for public outdoor recreation purposes.
- Linear greenway corridors and abandoned rights-of-way for outdoor recreation purposes.
Eligible Applicants
Any of the following local government agencies are eligible for LWCF assistance:
- Municipalities, Townships and Counties
- Park Districts
- Conservation Districts
- Forest Preserve Districts.
For more information, visit DNR.
