other · DOI-NPS

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

National Park Service · P26AS00125

1527 days left

Award Range

$300K – $15.0M

Total Program Funding

$85.0M

Expected Awards

Deadline

November 1, 2030

GRANTQUICK SUMMARYPlain-English Overview

Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) Recurring Notice 5 Year. National Park Service. 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,... $300,000-$15,000,000 per award; $125,000,000 total program funding; ~35 awards expected.

Who Should Apply

Federally Recognized Native American Tribal Governments, Other eligible entities, State governments

Who Should NOT Apply

Individuals and organizations outside the specified eligible types

Key Requirements (Plain English)

•In accordance with the EXPLORE Act (16 U
•Cost sharing/matching required
•Deadline: 2030-11-01

💡 GrantQuick Tip

Budget for cost-sharing match. Demonstrate institutional commitment and matching funds clearly in your proposal.

Competitiveness: Moderate to high — federal grants are always competitive

What This Grant Funds

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."

Attachments

PDF

Detailed Budget Template 07152026

Detailed_Budget_for_LWCF_Grants.xlsx

PDF

ORLP_NOFO_FAQ_081326

ORLP_NOFO_FAQ_081326.docx

PDF

ORLP NOFO 071526

ORLP_NOFO_071526.docx

Who Can Apply

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)) 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 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. 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))

Eligible Applicant Types

State GovernmentsOther (see NOFO for details)Federally Recognized Tribal Governments

Funding Details

Minimum Award: $300K
Maximum Award: $15.0M
Total Program Funding: $85.0M
Expected Number of Awards: 35
Cost Sharing Required?: Yes
Funding Instrument: grant

Key Dates

Posted: June 8, 2026

Application Deadline: November 1, 2030 (1527 days remaining)

Applications are due on November 1st each year. Selections should be announced within four months of the application deadline. Applicants have one year from the date of their notification of selection to finalize a grant agreement with the NPS.

Agency Contact

Matthew Russell ORLP_Inquiries@nps.gov

ORLP_Inquiries@nps.gov

Ready to apply?

View the full NOFO and submit your application on Grants.gov

View on Grants.gov