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Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) Recurring Notice 5 Year

Agency: National Park Service

Assistance Listings: 15.916 -- Outdoor Recreation Acquisition, Development and Planning

Last Updated: June 8, 2026

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites applications for the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program, administered by the National Park Service (NPS). ORLP provides funding to 1) to acquire land and water for parks and other outdoor recreation purposes in qualifying areas, and 2) to develop new or renovate existing outdoor recreation facilities that provide outdoor recreation opportunities to the public in qualifying areas. ORLP is a program within the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) State and Local Assistance Program, which provides matching grants to States. ORLP funding is available in addition to traditional LWCF state formula grants and does not affect state apportionments. 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. 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."

Eligibility

Eligible applicants

Government

  • State governments
  • Federally recognized Native American tribal governments

Miscellaneous

  • Other

Additional information

In accordance with the EXPLORE Act (16 U.S.C. § 8464), the following entities are eligible to apply directly for funding through the ORLP Program: State and Territorial Lead Agencies, in each of the 50 states as well as American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands About State and Territorial Lead Agencies - In accordance with the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Act (54 U.S.C. § 200305(a)), each state has a State Lead Agency designated by the state's Governor or by state legislation for the purposes of implementing LWCF. A State Lead Agency may submit applications on behalf of themselves or an eligible sub-recipient. Indian Tribes, meaning any Indian or Alaska Native Tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or community that the Secretary of the Interior acknowledges to exist as an Indian Tribe (25 U.S.C. § 5130(2)) Alaska Native communities or organizations, such as: Alaska Native Corporations including Regional Corporations, Village Corporations, Urban Corporations, and Group Corporations (43 U.S.C. § 1602(m)) The following entities are eligible subrecipients and must apply through their State 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. Native Hawaiian communities or organizations, such as: Native Hawaiian Organizations (54 U.S.C. § 300314) Native Hawaiian Homestead and Beneficiary Associations (43 CFR § 47.10) 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))

Grantor contact information

Description

Matthew Russell ORLP_Inquiries@nps.gov

Email

Program Contact

ORLP_Inquiries@nps.gov

Documents

File nameDescriptionLast updated
ORLP_NOFO_051326.docx
ORLP NOFO 051326
Jun 8, 2026 06:32 PM UTC
Detailed_Budget_for_LWCF_Grants.xlsx
Detailed Budget Template
Jun 8, 2026 07:10 PM UTC
ORLP_NOFO_FAQ_060826.docx
ORLP FAQ 060826
Jun 8, 2026 07:13 PM UTC

Link to additional information

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Closing: November 1, 2030

Applications are due on November 1st each year. Selections should be announced within four months of the application deadline....

Application process

This site is a work in progress. Go to www.grants.gov to apply, track application status, and subscribe to updates.

Award

$125,000,000

Program Funding

35

Expected awards

$300,000

Award Minimum

$15,000,000

Award Maximum

Funding opportunity number:

P26AS00125

Cost sharing or matching requirement:

Yes

Funding instrument type:

Grant

Opportunity Category:

Discretionary

Opportunity Category Explanation:

--

Category of Funding Activity:

Other

Category Explanation:

Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP)

History

Version:

2

Posted date:

June 8, 2026

Archive date:

November 30, 2030

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