Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program

Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program is sponsored by North Carolina State Parks. Provides matching grants to create or reinvigorate outdoor recreation spaces in urban communities in North Carolina.

Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program | NC State Parks The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) is a nationally competitive grant program that provides matching grants to create outdoor recreation spaces and reinvigorate existing parks in qualifying urban communities. Grants are selected by the federal Department of the Interior's National Park Service, following a solicitation and nomination by the state.

The ORLP is a program within LWCF State and Local Assistance. ORLP was initiated in 2014 as a complement to the LWCF formula grant program. In 2024, Congress passed the EXPLORE Act, which further codified ORLP, established program priorities, and expanded eligibility to Tribal governments.

Congress allocates money from the LWCF for ORLP, which is then awarded to eligible entities through a competitive process. Congress established the Land and Water Conservation Fund in 1965 to create more recreational opportunities for, and strengthen the health and vitality of, the American people.

LWCF’s State and Local Assistance Program provides matching grants to States, and through States to local units of government, for the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation sites and facilities. Since its inception, LWCF has funded over 46,000 projects across the country, totaling over $5 billion in investment.

Estimated Total Funding Available $125 million Expected Award Amounts $300,000 to $15 million Estimated Number of Agreements to be Awarded 35 Matching Requirement Dollar for dollar Program Goals To acquire land and water for parks and other outdoor recreation purposes in qualifying areas, and develop new or renovate existing outdoor recreation facilities that provide outdoor recreation opportunities to the public in qualifying areas.

An urban area that has a population of 25,000 or more in the most recent census, or 2 or more adjacent urban areas with a combined population of 25,000 or more in the most recent census; or an area administered by a federally recognized Indian Tribe or an Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian community organization. To determine if your jurisdiction and project are in a qualifying area, please click here.

Grant Application Cycle Overview Step 2: Merit Review + Selection Step 3: Full application within 1 year of selection Step 4: Grant award with approved application and contract.

Current Grant Cycle Timeline July 1, 2026 Notification of funding: Pre-application opens July 15, 2026 Opening webinar October 1, 2026 Pre-application deadline November 1, 2026 - April 30, 2027 Merit review and selection by ORLP Committee May 1, 2027 Announcements of projects selected to complete full application November 1, 2027 Deadline for full application submission October 1, 2028 - September 30, 2031 Anticipated project period for awarded projects In-Perpetuity Requirement The purpose of the ORLP Program is to: acquire land and water for parks and other outdoor recreation purposes in qualifying areas, and develop new or renovate existing outdoor recreation facilities that provide outdoor recreation opportunities to the public in qualifying areas.

In accordance with the EXPLORE Act, the ORLP Program will make selections based on the extent to which a project: Provide recreation opportunities in low-income communities in which access to parks is not adequate to meet local needs Provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and public land volunteerism; Support innovative or cost-effective ways to enhance parks and other recreation opportunities or delivery of services; Support park and recreation programming provided by local governments, including cooperative agreements with community-based eligible nonprofit organizations; Develop Native American event sites and cultural gathering spaces; Provide benefits such as community resilience, reduction of urban heat islands, enhanced water or air quality, or habitat for fish or wildlife; and Facilitate any combination of these goals.

The EXPLORE Act states that the Secretary shall give priority to projects that: Create or significantly enhance access to park and recreational opportunities in a qualifying area; Engage and empower low-income communities and youth; Provide employment or job training opportunities for youth or low-income communities; Establish or expand public-private partnerships, with a focus on leveraging resources; and Take advantage of coordination among various levels of government Within the context of these statutory priorities, the ORLP Program will also prioritize projects that further Secretarial and Executive Orders, including Executive Order 14313, “Establishing the President's Make America Beautiful Again Commission” and Secretarial Order 3442, “Land and Water Conservation Fund Implementation by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

” ORLP projects must be within a Qualifying Area, defined as: an urban area that has a population of 25,000 or more in the most recent census, or 2 or more adjacent urban areas with a combined population of 25,000 or more in the most recent census; or an area administered by a federally recognized Indian Tribe or an Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian community organization.

To determine if your jurisdiction and your project are in a qualifying area, please visit this page , check the “Urban Areas” box in the Layers tab, enter the project address (or nearby address) in the top right hand corner.

The following entities are eligible subrecipients and must apply through their State (NC Division of Parks and Recreation) or Territorial Lead Agency: Political subdivision of a State or Territory, including cities and counties, or special purpose districts that manage open space, such as a park district.

The following entities are eligible subrecipients and may choose whether to apply through a State or Territorial Lead Agency, or Tribal Government: Urban Indian organizations (25 U.S.C. § 1603(h)) Early coordination with the N. C.

Division of Parks and Recreation Grants & Outreach team will help ensure that the project aligns with the objectives and goals of the ORLP Program, and secure State or Territorial government support in maintaining perpetual conservation and/or recreation use on the proposed property. Additional requirements under the ORLP program: Matching Requirement - ORLP is dollar for dollar match, meaning it covers up to 50% of all project costs.

Applicants are responsible for providing non-federal funds for at least 50% of project costs. Perpetuity Requirement - Projects assisted through ORLP must be maintained and accessible for public outdoor recreation use in perpetuity. This applies to the assisted park or site in its entirety, not just the area assisted by the grant funds.

Alignment with LWCF Law and Policy - As an LWCF program, ORLP projects must align with the purposes and requirements of the LWCF Act and LWCF Manual.

Alignment with National Priorities – Projects must be responsive to Executive and National priorities, including those outlined in Executive Order 14313, “Establishing the President's Make America Beautiful Again Commission” and Secretarial Order 3442, “Land and Water Conservation Fund Implementation by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

” In-Perpetuity Requirement The LWCF Act requires that any park or other outdoor recreation area benefitting from assistance from the LWCF, whether for acquisition or development purposes, and regardless of the amount or extent of assistance, not be covered to any use other than public outdoor recreation ( see 54 U.S.C. 200305(f)(3) ).

Therefore, as a condition of the grant, the NPS requires that language be recorded against the deed of the assisted park/recreation property advising that the property was acquired and/or developed with federal funds from the LWCF, and that the property must be preserved for outdoor recreation uses in perpetuity and cannot be converted to any use other than public outdoor recreation use without the written approval of the Secretary of the Interior.

This approval is contingent upon the project sponsor replacing the area to be converted with a new recreation area involving land of at least equal fair market value and reasonably equivalent recreation utility, and the conversion and its replacement are consistent with the state's SCORP. The perpetuity requirement is applied to the assisted park or other recreation area as a whole.

Exceptions for boundaries that would apply to a lesser unit of a park will be considered only if the unit is a standalone recreation area (i.e., its borders do not include other areas of the park) and is self-sustaining (i.e., it does not rely on nor serve adjoining park area(s) for access, utilities, support facilities, etc.). The state and the NPS must agree to any boundary that does not comprise the whole park.

The NPS may eliminate from consideration any proposal that is not consistent with this policy. Notice of Funding Opportunity Please refer to this Notice of Funding Opportunity for all required forms and documentation to apply for an ORLP grant. You will need to contact your Recreation Resources Service Regional Consultant (see below).

All application materials will be submitted through SharePoint. Find your RRS regional consultant The Recreation Resources Service is a technical assistance program jointly administered by the N. C.

Division of Parks and Recreation and North Carolina State University's Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. To apply for an ORLP grant, contact your RRS regional consultant. All application materials will be submitted through SharePoint.

Recreation Grants and Outreach Staff Manager Vonda Martin 919-707-9338 Lead Grants Specialist (PARTF, AP) Lillian Heaton lillian. heaton@ncparks.

gov 919-707-9362 Grants Specialist (AP, AFP, Helene Recovery Funding) Lynn Harrell 919-707-9302 Grants Specialist (LWCF, ORLP) Sophia Olson 919-707-9342 LWCF Grants Compliance Specialist Aiden Manley 919-707-9370 Mailing Address 1615 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1615 Physical Address Division of Parks and Recreation Nature Research Center, 3rd floor