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Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is a matching grant program administered by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources that funds acquisition and development of outdoor recreation sites and facilities. Enacted by Congress in 1965 and permanently funded in 2020, LWCF provides grants covering up to 50% of eligible project costs.
Since the program launched, Indiana has received approximately $90 million in federal funds, supporting acquisition of more than 30,000 acres for public outdoor recreation. Eligible applicants include units of government and certain 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Indiana. Projects supported by an established park board receive additional scoring consideration.
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State Parks: Land and Water Conservation Fund Land and Water Conservation Fund Community Grants & Trails Land and Water Conservation Fund The LWCF application requirement to maintain a park board has been rescinded effective April 2026. Applicants with an existing, formally established park board should indicate this in their application.
Projects supported by an established park board will receive additional consideration during the rate and rank process. The Land and Water Conservation Program Participation in outdoor recreation activities is expanding so rapidly that park agencies often face a financial burden in attempting to provide enough facilities to keep up with the demand.
Congress passed the Land and Water Conservation Fund in 1965 to assist eligible governmental units in providing new outdoor recreation opportunities. The LWCF was permanently funded in 2020. The LWCF is a matching assistance program that provides grants up to 50% of the cost for the acquisition and/or development of outdoor recreation sites and facilities.
Since the program began, Indiana has received approximately $90 million in federal funds. More than 30,000 acres of land have been acquired in Indiana with LWCF assistance for public outdoor recreation use and conservation. Reimbursements will not be paid out until after a state grant agreement is fully approved, approximately three months after federal approval.
Project sponsors must submit a reimbursement request to the project grant coordinator on a regular basis (twice per year, preferred). Reimbursements are typically for 50% of total project expenditures submitted on the request, until the final reimbursement which may be a different percentage. Five percent of the grant amount is held until the project is fully completed and approved for close-out by the grant coordinator.
Project sponsors may use a combination of appropriations, bond issues, force account labor, and donations of land, cash, labor, materials, or equipment to match the grant. Other federal funding sources generally cannot be used as the local share of the project. Grant applications may consist of land acquisition and/or facility construction or renovation for local public parks for outdoor recreation.
New parks or additions to existing parks may be funded. The land acquisition or development may not be started until final approval is received from the federal government. All land to be developed must be controlled by the park board through direct ownership.
Examples of types of projects include: Acquiring park or natural area Sports and playfields, such as playgrounds, ballfields, court facilities and golf courses Water-oriented facilities for boating, swimming, and access to lakes, rivers, and streams Natural areas, nature centers, or interpretive facilities Fishing and hunting areas Amphitheaters and bandstands Roads, restrooms, utilities, or park maintenance buildings All facilities should be universally designed for persons with disabilities and the park board’s facilities, programs and activities must be open to the public without discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age or disability.
The LWCF Guidebook includes seven handbooks as step-by-step guides. > Federal Compliance Review Plan Review & Construction Handbook Procurement, Billing, Closeout Post-Completion Compliance & Stewardship To be eligible for LWCF grant funds, the applicant must have established a public park and recreation board according to Indiana law.
The park and recreation board must have a current five-year park and recreation master plan approved by the Indiana DNR. If you do not have a five-year park and recreation master plan, please see the links at the bottom of this page . Pre-application Meetings: Project sponsors are required to have a pre-application meeting with the Grants Team.
Meetings may be on site or virtual. Email LWCF@dnr. IN.
gov early to discuss the proposed project and application process. Due Date for Applications: Applications must be received at LWCF@dnr. IN.
gov by Aug. 1.
Application checklist --> Article XXI: Build America, Buy America Regulations Assurance of Compliance Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VI Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Age Discrimination Act of 1975 Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility, and Voluntary Exclusion DNR Early Coordination Recommendations Certification of Compliance DNR Subrecipient Information Sheet Grant billing form instructions LWCF Project Timeline Template The Community Grants and Trails section has guidelines for preparing 5-year park and recreation master plans .
Protecting LWCF Assisted Properties Forever: All parks that are acquired or developed using LWCF grant assistance require federal encumbrance be included on each deed, thereby protecting the property solely for outdoor recreation use in perpetuity (i.e., forever).
This encumbrance protects LWCF properties from being developed or sold for non-outdoor recreation uses such as but not limited to building a library, fire station, or cell tower on the property. Selling LWCF protected land or building noncompliant structures within the encumbrance boundary may result in a conversion of use. Indiana Department of Natural Resources Buy gifts from state parks Reserve room at state park inn More IN.
gov Online Services View fees for state parks View upcoming nature programs Plan Your Visit to a DNR Property Accessibility in the Outdoors
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Units of government and certain 501(c)3 not-for-profit agencies in Indiana. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Funding amounts vary based on project scope and sponsor guidance. Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
Yes — AI tools like Granted can help research funders, draft proposal sections, and check compliance. However, always review and customize AI-generated content to reflect your organization's unique strengths and the specific requirements of the solicitation.
Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.
Small Town Big Trees Grant is a grant from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources that funds tree planting and urban canopy expansion in small Indiana communities. The $5,000 matching grant is available to communities with populations of 10,000 or less seeking to expand and diversify their community tree canopy. Funded projects plant native Indiana tree species in parks, public spaces, and other community properties, providing shade, wildlife habitat, carbon reduction, and aesthetic benefits. The City of Charlestown, for example, used a 2025 award to plant 28 trees of 11 different native species across five city parks. Eligible applicants are small Indiana municipalities.
Lake and River Enhancement (LARE) Program is a grant from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that funds aquatic habitat restoration, vegetation management, logjam and sediment removal, and biological and engineering projects to improve the health of Indiana lakes and rivers. The program requires local sponsors to share at least 20% of project costs. In fiscal year 2026, $1,484,960 was allocated across 48 projects. Eligible applicants are local sponsors in Indiana counties with demonstrated aquatic resource improvement needs.
Indiana Trails Program (ITP) is a grant from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources that funds development of public trails and trail infrastructure across Indiana. The program reimburses up to 80% of eligible project costs, with grants ranging from $100,000 to $400,000. Funded activities include trailhead development, bridges, boardwalks, crossings, parking, and trail easement or property acquisition. Applicants must have at least 20% of the project cost available at the time of application. Eligible applicants are units of government and 501(c)(3) nonprofits whose central mission focuses on providing public outdoor recreation opportunities, with commitment to maintain funded facilities for at least 25 years.
EPA is seeking insightful, expert, and cost-effective applications from eligible applicants to provide the Chesapeake Bay Program’s non-federal partners with technical analysis and programmatic evaluation support related to water quality modeling and monitoring and spatial systems to manage, analyze, and map environmental data. The project assists the partners in meeting their restoration and protection goals and in increasing the transfer of scientific understanding to the Chesapeake Bay Program modeling, monitoring, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) activities. The recipient will support modeling, monitoring, and GIS programs needed to explain and communicate the health of and changes in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-R3-CBP-23-18. Assistance Listing: 66.466. Funding Instrument: CA. Category: ENV. Award Amount: Up to $5.3M per award.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Phase I is sponsored by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA SBIR Phase I Solicitation invites small businesses to submit proposals for projects addressing critical environmental challenges. Awards are for six months to demonstrate proof of concept. Key focus areas include Clean and Safe Water, Air Quality and Climate, Homeland Security, Circular Economy/Sustainable Materials, and Safer Chemicals.
Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program (CCGP) is sponsored by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Community Change Grants Program funds projects that provide meaningful improvements to the environmental, climate, and resilience conditions affecting disadvantaged communities. While broadly focused on environmental and climate justice, projects can include aspects that relate to community health and well-being through addressing environmental health risks. The program aims to fund community-driven pollution and climate resiliency solutions and strengthen communities' decision-making power. Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis.