Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) Recurring Notice 5 Year
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
- Funding
- Estimated total program funding: $85,000,000
- Deadline
- November 2, 2030
- Status
- OPEN
- Category
- Climate & Environment
- Opens
- June 8, 2026
- Directory link check
- October 27, 2026
About this opportunity
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 recorded
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 IslandsAbout 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))