NH Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Grant

NH Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation
Amount: US $50,000 - US $500,000
Last Updated: July 12, 2025

Summary

The NH Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is a federally funded program established in 1965, aimed at providing matching grants to state and local governments for the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreational areas. With funding sourced entirely from offshore oil and gas leases, the program supports a legacy of quality recreational resources. Since its inception, the LWCF has allocated nearly $50 million to over 700 projects, ensuring public accessibility and sustainability in outdoor recreation.

Overview

About Us The New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation is one of five divisions of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The other divisions include: Forests and LandsState LibraryHistorical ResourcesState Council on the Arts The Division of Parks and Recreation is comprised of management components that make up the Division's mission in the state.The Division manages 93 properties' campgrounds, beaches, natural areas, waysides, historic sites and recreational trails. NH Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Authorized by the US Congress and signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Act of 1965 established a federally funded program to provide 1:1 matching financial assistance grants to state and local governments for the purpose acquiring and/or developing public outdoor recreational areas and facilities. The program is administered nationally by the US Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS) with 100% of the supporting revenues being generated from offshore oil and gas leases, and 0% from taxpayer dollars. LWCF is intended to create and maintain a nationwide legacy of quality public outdoor recreational resources as well as to stimulate non-federal investments in the establishment, enhancement, and stewardship of these highly valued public outdoor recreational areas. Property acquired or developed with LWCF assistance shall be retained and used for public outdoor recreation. Any property acquired or developed shall not be wholly or partly converted to other than public outdoor recreation uses without the approval of NPS pursuant to the LWCF Act (54 U.S.C. § 200305(f)(3)) and conversion requirements outlined in regulations (36 C.F.R. § 59.3). LWCF grants for local assistance are passed from the NPS through the State of New Hampshire Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) to eligible sub-units of government. Under the federal program rules the State must develop and maintain a Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) and appoint an official State Liaison Officer to participate in the program and receive annual federal program apportionments. The DNCR, Division of Parks and Recreation, Bureau of Community Recreation manages all aspects of the program including, but not limited to, coordinating grant rounds, determining project eligibility, distributing grant reimbursements, and compliance monitoring of previously funded project sites. Since the creation of the LWCF in 1965 the State has been allocated just under $50,000,000.00 in federal program apportionments, with over 700 individual acquisition and development projects being funded. Amount The LWCF is a 1:1 matching grant program. Sponsors must commit to contributing a minimum of 50% of the overall project costs. Funding requests shall be made for grant award amounts between $50,000.00 (towards $100,000.00+ total project) and $500,000.00 (towards $1,000,000.00+ total project). All grant payments are made on reimbursement basis.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. All proposed projects must be for the acquisition and/or development of public outdoor recreation properties. Project sponsors must by a sub-unit of government.Eligible projects must fall within one of three categories as follows:Development: This includes new support facilities or renovation of existing support facilities. Acquisition: This includes purchase of fee simple title or legal control of property for public use. This can be acquisition of abutting land to an existing developed recreational area, private recreational areas to be converted to public use, or undeveloped property to establish a new outdoor recreational area. Projects to acquire undeveloped property in order create new public outdoor recreational areas must include a component for public access. These types of projects must be submitted as a “combination” below.Combination: This includes projects that consist of elements for both development and acquisition.