The National Park Service is seeking applications for its Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program.
Donor Name: National Park Service
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 11/01/2026
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites applications for the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program, administered by the National Park Service (NPS). ORLP provides funding to 1) to acquire land and water for parks and other outdoor recreation purposes in qualifying areas, and 2) to develop new or renovate existing outdoor recreation facilities that provide outdoor recreation opportunities to the public in qualifying areas. ORLP is a program within the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) State and Local Assistance Program, which provides matching grants to States. ORLP funding is available in addition to traditional LWCF state formula grants and does not affect state apportionments.
ORLP projects must be within a Qualifying Area, defined as:
- An urban area that has a population of 25,000 or more in the most recent census, or
- 2 or more adjacent urban areas with a combined population of 25,000 or more in the most recent census; or
- An area administered by a federally recognized Indian Tribe or an Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian community organization.
The purpose of the ORLP Program is to 1) acquire land and water for parks and other outdoor recreation purposes in qualifying areas, and 2) develop new or renovate existing outdoor recreation facilities that provide outdoor recreation opportunities to the public in qualifying areas. In accordance with the EXPLORE Act, the ORLP Program will make selections based on the extent to which a project:
- Provide recreation opportunities in low-income communities in which access to parks is not adequate to meet local needs
- Provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and public land volunteerism;
- Support innovative or cost-effective ways to enhance parks and other recreation opportunities or delivery of services;
- Support park and recreation programming provided by local governments, including cooperative agreements with community-based eligible nonprofit organizations;
- Develop Native American event sites and cultural gathering spaces;
- Provide benefits such as community resilience, reduction of urban heat islands, enhanced water or air quality, or habitat for fish or wildlife; and
- Facilitate any combination of these goals.
The EXPLORE Act states that the Secretary shall give priority to projects that:- Create or significantly enhance access to park and recreational opportunities in a qualifying area;
- Engage and empower low-income communities and youth;
- Provide employment or job training opportunities for youth or low-income communities;
- Establish or expand public-private partnerships, with a focus on leveraging resources; and
- Take advantage of coordination among various levels of government
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $50 – 120 million as available annually.
- Award Ceiling: $15,000,000
- Award Floor: $300,000
Eligible Projects
- Acquisition of lands, wetlands, and waters for public outdoor recreation, including new areas or additions to existing parks, forests, wildlife management areas, beaches, and other similar areas dedicated to public outdoor recreation, as well as physical connections among them (e.g., trails, waterways, land between recreation areas, wildlife habitat corridors) may be eligible for assistance.
- Development should encompass essential public outdoor recreation activities and the necessary support facilities for public use. Projects could involve a combination of land acquisition and site development. These projects can cater to a diverse range of public outdoor recreation activities and facilities required to enhance the use and enjoyment for the public.
Eligibility Criteria
- State governments
- Territorial governments
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
