Feature Story

October 2019

$170.6 Million in LWCF Grants to Support Parks & Outdoor Recreation

By Chandler Garland

U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt has announced a total of $170,623,713 in grants from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to all 50 States, five U.S. territories and the District of Columbia for state-identified outdoor recreation and conservation projects. Each state will receive a predetermined portion based on population size. The allocation for the State and Local Assistance grant (stateside) program is determined based on a formula set in the LWCF Act, and includes funds appropriated from the LWCF by Congress as well as revenue derived from the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act.

LWCF funds are not derived from taxpayer dollars but come from Outer Continental Shelf lease revenues and are awarded through federal matching grants administered by the National Park Service.

“Using zero taxpayer dollars, LWCF invests earnings from offshore oil and gas leasing to help rehabilitate and improve infrastructure at state and local parks and other recreation areas,” said Bernhardt. “Funds will also be used to maximize access by opening up landlocked public lands. A small investment in a little strip of land can open up thousands of acres to outdoor recreation enthusiasts.”

Funds are used to permanently conserve outdoor recreation areas for public use and enjoyment. They enable state and local governments to improve parks and other recreation areas in their communities by rehabilitating and upgrading existing parks, creating new parks and expanding trail systems to link communities together, creating recreation opportunities.

Since the inception of the LWCF in1964, more than $4.4 billion has been made available to state and local governments to fund more than 43,000 projects throughout the nation, including the purchase and protection of 3 million acres of recreation lands. In 54 years, 30,000 rural to urban communities in all states, territories and the District of Columbia have received assistance through LWCF grants.

“We are pleased with the permanent authorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which came as part of the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act earlier this year,” said National Park Service Acting Deputy Director for Operations David Vela during remarks at the National Association of State Park Directors conference. ”Investing in high-quality outdoor recreation space has proven to increase the public’s physical, cultural and spiritual well-being. We look forward to continuing our work with state and local partners in the implementation of this important program.”