Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund

Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund is sponsored by Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Offers matching funds to local governments for public outdoor recreational areas.

Land and Water Conservation Fund Grants Accessibility Information Land Preservation and Recreation Plan Land and Water Conservation Fund Potomac River Segment Plan The Maryland Wildlands Preservation System The Maryland Trails Program Land and Water Conservation Fund Grants UPDATE​: The application period for LWCF grant funding is now closed. Check back in April 2027 for information about the next round of funding​.

Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) supports projects to improve outdoor recreation through the acquisition of land and development or renovation of recreation amenities. To view previous grants, please consult the ​ Se e below to learn about the application process for formula LWCF grants, which are competitive at the state level.

Requirements for the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program and Readiness and Recreation Initiative, both of which are sub- types of LWCF, can be found on the Nationally Competitive G​rant webpage . ​ A full listing of requirements for the LWCF grant can be found in the LWCF Manual .

Key requirements are: Eligible Recipients: Must be a government entity (e.g. state agency, federally recognized tribe, county, municipality, special district) Matching Fund Requirement: LWCF funding must be matched 1:1 with non-federal funds.

Acceptable federal funding sources for matching: Community Development Block Grants Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Note: Program Open Space and Community Parks and Playground grants may be used to match LWCF funds. Program Open Space local matching requirements will still apply. Funding: Reimbursement-based.

Funds will be issued after the project has been completed. Recreation Use: The entire park must be permanently protected and dedicated exclusively to recreational use. Project Completion Timeline: ​ Projects must be completed within 3 years of award date (with possibility of 2-year extension) Questions about this grant opportunity may be directed to: Molly Pickel at [email protected] or 443-223-4302.

​ Applications are not currently being accepted. Check back in April 2027 for information about the next round of funding. Application materials from the previous round are linked below to provide information about the typical requirements.

​ LWCF grants have a 2-step application process. Applicants submit projects to DNR for consideration during the Open Project Selection Process (OPSP). Successful applicants will be invited to prepare a full application for submission to the National Park Service.

Application materials from the 2026 application period are linked below. The maximum LWCF grant request was $3,000,000 ($6,000,000 project) and the minimum request was $50,000 ($100,000 project). Exceptions may be granted by the Department in certain circumstances based on project applications received and available grant funds.

​ National Parks Service, Land and Water Conservation Fund Manual Current Maryland Land Preservation and Recreation Plan Local Land Preservation, Parks, and Recreation Plans LWCF Competitive Grant Announcement Preliminary State Application Preliminary Local Application Open Project Selection Process Criteria for State Projects Open Project Selection Process Criteria for Local Projects​ ​ LWCF Open Project Selection Process Overview Webinar: Authorized by the United States Congress and signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson, the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 established a federally funded program to provide 50/50 matching grants to state and local governments for the purpose of acquiring and/or developing public outdoor recreational areas and facilities.

The program is administered nationally by the United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service with the supporting revenues generated from offshore oil and gas leases.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund is intended to create and maintain a nationwide legacy of quality public outdoor recreational resources as well as to stimulate non-federal investments in the purchase, development, maintenance and protection of these highly valued outdoor recreational areas.

Per section 6(f)(3) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act, “No property acquired or developed with assistance under this section shall, without the approval of the Secretary of the Department of the Interior, be converted to other than public outdoor recreation uses. ” The Land and Water Conservation Fund is managed at the state level, by the state governments.

In order to be eligible to receive a program apportionment from the National Park Service, each state must develop and maintain a Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan and appoint an official State Liaison Officer.

All eligible projects must reflect the states’ policies and priorities of its most current Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan; in Maryland this plan is the 2019 – 2023 Maryland Land Preservation and Recreation Plan​ . ​ Municipalities and counties may apply for up to 50 percent matching fund assistance from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

In Maryland, the Department of Natural Resources, Land Acquisition and Planning Unit, is responsible for managing the program, coordinating grant rounds for project funding, and monitoring past project sites for program compliance in Maryland. Since its inception, the Land and Water Conservation Fund program has funded over 400 acquisition and development projects throughout the state of Maryland.

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