Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program

The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program, or ORLP, is a nationwide program administered by the National Park Service under the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act. The program is intended to provide new or significantly improved outdoor recreation opportunities in urban, disadvantaged communities that lack access to walkable outdoor recreation, consistent with the purposes and requirements of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act and LWCF Manual. For the Georgia application process described here, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources serves as the lead state-level point of submission before eligible applications advance to the National Park Service for national competition. The competition prioritizes projects that create or significantly enhance access to parks and recreational opportunities in qualifying areas, 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 an emphasis on leveraging resources, and coordinate among multiple levels of government. Assistance may support the acquisition of land for parks and other outdoor recreation purposes as well as the development or rehabilitation of outdoor recreation facilities for public use. Examples include community parks and playgrounds, campgrounds, sports fields and courts, picnic areas and open-air pavilions, walking, hiking, or biking tracks, and water-based recreation facilities for swimming or boating. Applicants may request between $300,000 and $15,000,000. A minimum 1:1 match is required. Matching support may come from state, local, non-governmental, or private sources and may consist of cash or in-kind contributions, including land, services, materials, or other qualifying contributions. All matching funds must be secured or firmly committed when the application is submitted, and each contribution must be supported by a signed letter from the donor. The source does not state the total amount of program funding available or the anticipated number of awards. Eligible applicants include an incorporated city or town or a county with a population of 25,000 or more according to the most recent Census. Eligibility also extends to two or more adjacent urban areas that have a combined population of at least 25,000 according to the most recent Census, as well as areas administered by a federally recognized Indian Tribe or an Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian community organization. ORLP is a separate application process from the LWCF grant program. An applicant that is currently receiving or has received an LWCF grant within the last seven years may not apply for an ORLP grant at the same park. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources will accept applications from July 6, 2026 through September 4, 2026, with applications due by email on September 4, 2026. A full application must contain the nine required items identified in the application checklist under Required Elements. Applicants interested in submitting are directed to contact LWCF Grant Coordinator Rayne Gaston at rayne.gaston1@dnr.ga.gov. After submission, Georgia DNR staff will evaluate applications, and applications satisfying the required elements and eligibility requirements will be forwarded to the National Park Service to compete in the national selection process. Applicants whose projects are selected at the national level will be required to provide additional information. The application cycle opened July 6, 2026, applications are due to Georgia DNR on September 4, 2026, and DNR review is scheduled for September 2026. The National Park Service is anticipated to announce selected projects in May 2027. Selected projects must finalize a grant agreement with the National Park Service within one year in order to remain eligible for funding. No recurring or annually repeating application schedule is stated in the provided source. Questions may be directed to Rayne Gaston, LWCF Grant Coordinator, by email at rayne.gaston1@dnr.ga.gov or by phone at 404.290.7958.

Prioritize 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 coordinate among various levels of government. Ensure all required match is secured or firmly committed and supported by signed donor letters at application.