Land and Water Conservation Fund

Land and Water Conservation Fund is sponsored by Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Supports state and local governments with up to 50% reimbursement for the acquisition, development, or rehabilitation of public outdoor recreational areas.

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detailid=ce5ec1fe-1a42-f011-8f04-00505680042e) * FIND CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES * HELPFUL TIPS FOR APPLYING * REVIEW PAST OPPORTUNITIES ## Land And Water Conservation Fund #### This funding opportunity is for reference only, registration closed on November 14, 2025 Opportunity Number DNR-LWCF-2026 Funding Organization U.S. Department of the Interior Ohio Funding Opportunity Categories Natural Resources Application Start Date August 15, 2025 Application End Date November 14, 2025 Project Start Date October 1, 2026 Project End Date September 30, 2029 Assistance Listing Number / CFDA #15.

916 Outdoor Recreation Acquisition, Development and Planning Eligible Applicants Local Governments , Park/Recreation District, Soil/Water Conservation District/Joint Board, Water/Sewer/Sanitary District, Opportunity Details The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant program provides up to 50% reimbursement assistance for state and local government subdivisions (townships, villages, cities, counties, park districts, joint recreation districts, and conservancy districts) for the acquisition, development, and rehabilitation of public outdoor recreational areas.

More Informationhttps://ohiodnr. gov/buy-and-apply/apply-for-grants/grants/land-water-conservation-fund Financial Details The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant program provides up to 50% reimbursement assistance for state and local government subdivisions. The minimum project award is $50,000 (50% of a $100,000 project) and the maximum award is $500,000 (50% of a $1,000,000 project).

Funding is issued to the state and it is at the state's discretion how much of that funding will be made available for local governments. Since the LWCF grant program became effective, the State of Ohio has received over $205 million. Over half of this funding has been used for local parks projects.

Ohio offers a local grant program on an annual schedule. Ohio Agency Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division Office of Real Estate (ORE) * 1. 2: Guidance Document This document offers guidance on completing the LWCF online application via the Ohio Grants Portal and may be downloaded and printed for the applicant's reference.

Guidance Document LWCF 2025. pdf ### Documents to be Submitted with Application _When applicable, instructions or templates will be provided in the Attachments section above. Only PDF, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint or Excel formats will be accepted.

_ * 1. 1: 2025 Land & Water Conservation Fund Grant Narrative Questions , Scoring Criteria, and Certifications Completed applications must either be postmarked or submitted online by November 14, 2025. There are no exceptions.

The LWCF application must be downloaded and saved locally from this attachments section of the Ohio Grants Portal. All sections must then be completed and signed where applicable. After the application is complete, it must then be uploaded here as an attachment.

Narrative Questions and Certifications (Final Web Version). pdf * 1. 3: A & R Form This information is required by the National Park Service.

These questions are not scored, but they must be answered as completely as possible. If a question is not applicable to your project, please put N/A. This form is available as a Word document in the attachments section.

Please download and save locally from the attachments section of the Ohio Grants Portal in order for progress to be saved. Answer only the highlighted portions. Once the highlighted questions have been answered, then upload the completed document as an attachment to the A&R form in the Application Attachments section of the Ohio Grants Portal under the Subsection Title: A &R Form.

A&R Form 2025 insert. docx * 1. 4: Resolution of Authorization A Resolution of Authorization whereby the applicant obligates funds for the entire project is required.

An example format for a resolution of authorization to be passed by a governing body of the local government agency is provided here and may be used as a template or applicants may create their own Resolution of Authorization. A hand signed certified copy of the ordinance or resolution must be included with each application and uploaded here as an attachment.

However, if the next meeting of the governing body occurs after the November 14th grant application deadline, the certified Resolution may be submitted to ODNR up to one month after the grant deadline, or by December 14th 2025. If this situation applies, the applicant may upload a brief explanation with the grant application instead of the certified resolution. RESOLUTION OF AUTHORIZATION.

docx * 1. 5: Purpose and Need, Justification and Explanation Supplemental documentation for Question 1 of the application. * 1.

6: Documentation of Local Funds Supporting documentation relating to Question 2 of the application. * 1. 7: Operation and Maintenance Supporting documentation relating to Question 3 of the application.

* 1. 8: Accessibility Supporting documentation relating to Question 4 of the application. * 1.

9 Planning Supporting documentation relating to Question 5 of the application. * 2. 0: Public Participation Supporting documentation relating to Question 6 of the application.

* 2. 1: Evidence of Interest in Property A copy of the deed(s) for the property being developed or acquired is required with the application. Development projects are eligible on land and water owned in fee simple, or for which the project sponsor has a lease or easement meeting certain requirements.

An easement must provide permanent control of the property. Long-term leases from one public agency to another are allowable with a joint sponsorship agreement stipulating that the lessor will assume compliance responsibility for the LWCF boundary area in the event the lease is terminated, and the term of the lease must have at least 25-years remaining at the time of grant award.

Once complete, upload as an attachment in the Application Attachments section of the Ohio Grants Portal under the Subsection Title: Evidence of Interest in Project Property. * 2. 2: Boundary Map A Section 6(f) BOUNDARY MAP is required.

The Boundary Map is usually a map of the entire park where the grant project will be constructed. If the project is for land acquisition, the Boundary Map should include the entire newly acquired park, or in the case of acquisition to enlarge an existing park, the Boundary Map should include both the preexisting park and the newly acquired land enlarging the park. A Boundary Line must be drawn around the park.

Sponsors may download and complete the fields of the template provided or they create their own boundary map. Sponsors must upload a boundary map attachment with their application. See the Attachments Guidance Document for more detailed instructions.

Boundary Map Template. pdf * 2. 3: Site Vicinity/Location Map Please submit a highway, street, county or other map(s) that will clearly locate your project in relation to nearby streets, highways, towns and other landmarks.

* 2. 4: Existing Use Map Please submit a map or, if easier, copy of an aerial photo (can be downloaded from the web) showing all existing development within the entire Boundary Map. * 2.

5: Proposed Plan for Site Please submit a site plan showing all proposed development that will be a part of the grant project. * 2. 6: Development Cost Estimate & Project Summary OR Acquisition Cost Analysis Either a Development Cost Estimate & Project Summary or an Acquisition Cost Analysis must be submitted with your online application.

A Development Cost Estimate & Project Summary is required for all development projects. An Acquisition Cost Analysis is only required if the project is for acquisition of real property. For development projects, an estimate of project costs prepared by a professional Engineer, Architect or Landscape Architect may be submitted in lieu of the Development Cost Estimate and Project Summary Form.

The Project Cost Breakdown needs to be downloaded and saved as an attachment in order for progress to save. Once completed, uploaded the relevant cost form for your project as an attachment in the Application Attachments section of the Ohio Grants Portal under the Subsection Title: Development Cost Estimate & Project Summary. Please do not include contingency costs.

Project Cost Breakdown. xlsx * 2. 7: Inter-Agency Agreement Supplemental documentation if an inter-agency agreement exists between two or more public or private agencies for purposes of funding or operating the grant project.

* 2. 8: Environmental Review (ODNR) Environmental Review Documentation * 2. 9: Previous Environmental Review To avoid duplication of effort and unnecessary delays, describe any prior environmental review undertaken at any time and still viable for this proposal or related efforts that could be useful for understanding potential environmental impacts.

Consider previous local, state, federal (e.g. HUD, EPA, USFWS, FHWA, ODOT) and any other environmental reviews. Provide supporting documentation as it is described in the Environmental Review portion of the LWCF application. This information may be uploaded here.

Previous Environmental Review. docx * 3. 0: Environmental Review (IPaC: Ohio).

Ohio Ecological Services Field Office (Ohio@fws. gov) response to Step 2 of applicant's IPaC submission * 3. 0: Environmental Review (IPaC: U.S.)Endangered Species Review through US Fish & Wildlife Services, Step 1 IPaC submission * 3.

1: Section 106 Review A completed Section 106 Form for the proposed project must be submitted to ODNR with this LWCF application by the application deadline. Upon project recommendation, ODNR will submit these forms to the Ohio Historic Preservation Office (OHPO) on behalf of the successful applicants. Section 106 Form is attached.

Form should be downloaded and saved locally in order for progress to save. After completion, upload completed form here. SHPO_FINAL_ProjectSummaryForm_2025.

pdf * 3. 1: Section 106 Review Associated Documentation If available, provide any additional information such as plan or schematic sheets, renderings of the proposed building/structure/development, and/or agency correspondences. If a Phase I archaeology or reconnaissance level history architecture survey was completed, please provide the report.

* Additional Supplemental Documentation Upload additional supplementation appropriate for the project. * Additional Supplemental Documentation Upload additional supplementation appropriate for the project. * Additional Supplemental Documentation Upload additional supplementation appropriate for the project.

* Additional Supplemental Documentation Upload additional supplementation appropriate for the project. * Additional Supplemental Documentation Upload additional supplementation appropriate for the project. * Additional Supplemental Documentation Upload additional supplementation appropriate for the project.

* Additional Supplemental Documentation Upload additional supplementation appropriate for the project. * Additional Supplemental Documentation Upload additional supplementation appropriate for the project.