Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program

The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program is a federally funded initiative administered by the National Park Service as part of the Land and Water Conservation Fund State and Local Assistance Program. Established in 2014, the program is designed to expand access to high quality outdoor recreation opportunities in urban communities, particularly those that are underserved or lack sufficient park infrastructure. The program operates as a nationally competitive grant opportunity, with state lead agencies serving as the official applicants to the federal government. In Wisconsin, the Department of Natural Resources serves as the state lead and submits applications on behalf of eligible subrecipients such as local governments and tribal entities. The primary purpose of the program is to support both the acquisition and development of land for public outdoor recreation. Eligible projects include the purchase of land or water resources for parks and open space, as well as the construction, renovation, or expansion of outdoor recreation facilities. These may include parks, trails, beaches, forests, wildlife areas, and related infrastructure that enhances public use. Projects may combine acquisition and development components, provided they ultimately result in accessible outdoor recreation opportunities. However, funding is restricted to outdoor uses and cannot be used for indoor facilities, professional sports venues, or acquisition support costs such as appraisals or title work. The program provides substantial funding support, with individual awards ranging from a minimum of 300000 dollars to a maximum of 15000000 dollars. Grants require a mandatory one to one match, meaning recipients must provide at least 50 percent of total project costs through non federal sources. Administrative costs are capped at 7 percent of the grant award. Projects funded through the program must comply with federal requirements including Buy America provisions for infrastructure and must align with national priorities and the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act. Additionally, funded sites must remain dedicated to public outdoor recreation use in perpetuity, ensuring long term community benefit. Eligibility for participation is limited to projects located within qualifying areas. These include urban areas with populations of at least 25000, combinations of adjacent urban areas meeting that population threshold, or lands administered by federally recognized Native American tribes. While only state lead agencies may apply directly to the National Park Service, eligible subrecipients include state agencies, local units of government, special purpose districts managing open space, and federally recognized tribes. These entities work with the state agency to develop and submit proposals. The application process is detailed and requires submission of multiple components. Applicants must prepare a project abstract, a narrative addressing evaluation criteria, a detailed budget narrative, project timeline, site maps and renderings, and documentation of cost share commitments. Additional required elements include statements regarding duplication of effort, audit reporting, and conflict of interest disclosures. The narrative must address specific merit review criteria such as improving access to recreation, supporting low income communities, promoting conservation, and demonstrating project feasibility. Evaluation is based on a scoring system that prioritizes strong community impact, alignment with national goals, and readiness to implement. Applications for the 2026 cycle must be submitted to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources by September 30, 2026 at 4 pm. Following submission, the state conducts an initial review to ensure completeness before forwarding applications to the National Park Service. A national review process then evaluates proposals, with award announcements anticipated around May 2027. Successful applicants must complete a full application within one year of award notification to remain eligible for funding. For assistance, applicants may contact the designated grant manager at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources or the National Park Service program inbox.

Strongly align project with low income community needs demonstrate clear recreation access gaps and provide detailed feasible budget and timeline