Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) State and Local Assistance program provides grants to states, and through states to local units of government and federally-recognized Indian tribes, for projects that will provide outdoor recreation opportunities to the public through the acquisition of lands and waters for parks and other outdoor recreation areas, as well as through the development of new, or the renovation of existing, outdoor recreation facilities. It is operated by the National Park Service (NPS) in partnership with designated lead agencies. In 2014, in coordination with Congress, the Secretary of the Interior, State lead agencies, and interest groups, the NPS created the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program, a competitive grant program administered under the authority of the LWCF Act as a complement to the formula grant program.

The Sixth Grant Round of the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program is offering two application submission dates: Round 6A applications are due to the DNR by December 30, 2022 and Round 6B applications are due to the DNR by April 28, 2023. As designed, the purpose of the ORLP Program is to provide new or significantly improved recreation opportunities in economically-disadvantaged communities, consistent with the purposes and requirements of the LWCF Act and LWCF Manual, and that:

• meet recreation goals as identified in, and align with, at least one priority of, the State’s Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP)
• are located within a city having a population of 30,000 or more, and
• serve the specific needs of a community(ies) that is (are) severely lacking in walkable, publicly accessible, outdoor recreation (“park deserts”), and that has a poverty rate of at least 20% or that is at least 10% higher than that of the project city, county, and state rates).

Outdoor recreation areas and facilities assisted through this program must be open to the general public, and may not be converted to other than public outdoor recreation uses. The DNR, as the state lead agency, may apply on behalf of local governments and Indian tribal governments who submit projects which meet the grant criteria. If you have any questions, please contact Jessica Flatt at 515-975-8569.

With the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Federal financial assistance programs for infrastructure must comply with domestic content procurement preference requirements established in the “Build America, Buy America Act” at Section 70911 et seq. (“Buy America”). Buy America’s domestic content procurement preference applies to all of the iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials used for infrastructure projects under an award. These requirements take effect on May 14, 2022 (NPS deferred to January 13, 2023); however, parties may seek waivers under certain circumstances.

For more information: “Buy America” Domestic Sourcing Guidance and Waiver Process for DOI Financial Assistance Agreements.

Complete Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and associated documents can be found on the Grants.gov website.