Land and Water Conservation Fund
SupportingCommunityRecreation
Land and Water Conservation Fund Goals How it Works Funding Key Supporters
… local parks and open spaces are as significant to communities as national parks to the nation Fran Mainella NPS Director
LWCF Program Goals State and local: -park development -recreation facility development -open space acquisition Statewide recreation planning
“to strengthen the health and vitality of the citizens of the United States …” - Public Law
How it Works…1 fund, 2 programs Federal Side: land acquisition for BLM, NPS, USFS, and USFWS State Side: matching grants to states for statewide recreation planning, acquisition and development
State Matching Grant Program Acquire land for parks and recreation Build or improve recreation facilities Promote statewide recreation planning
Funds allocated to States proportionally States select projects based on SCORP Protection in perpetuity —Section 6(f)(3) LWCF: 3 Key Provisions
Statewide goals for outdoor recreation Criteria for project selection Select individual projects Select individual projects SCORP: achieving statewide goals SCORP: achieving statewide goals …one project at a time
Land and Water is Everywhere 40 years…40,000 Projects 1400 parks since million acres total Almost every county in the US $3.4 billion granted/$3.4 billion matched $6.8 billion total investment
Supporting Local Recreation “I got my first hit at a park supported by the Land and Water Conservation Fund.”
Supporting Local Recreation Fund Uses Sports and Playfields Trails and Bikepaths Fishing and Hunting Boating / Swimming facilities Camping facilities …and more!
Supporting Local Recreation … More Uses Community Gardens Accessibility Improvements Winter Sports facilities Park Support facilities Many other eligible uses
Supporting Local Recreation Ineligible Fund Uses Primarily tourist or specator-oriented Professional sports facilities Indoor recreation facilities Commercial entertainment
Accessing Funding Contact State Liaison Officer Arrange for funding match Create local awareness
Accessing Funding
Key National Supporters Americans for Our Heritage and Recreation ( National Recreation and Park Association (
Land and Water Conservation Fund Recent Funding History $40 million2000 $89 million2001 $140 million2002 $94 million2003 $91 million2004 …strongly supported by President Bush.
Questions? Contact: