The LWCF program provides matching grants to States and local governments for the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation areas and facilities. The program is intended to create and maintain a nationwide legacy of high quality recreation areas and facilities and to stimulate non-federal investments in the protection and maintenance of recreation resources across the United States.

NPS and NARRP Recognize
State Outdoor Recreation Planning

An acceptable statewide comprehensive outdoor recreation plan (SCORP) is a statutory prerequisite for States to receive financial assistance under the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). 

During the recent annual meeting of the National Association of Recreation Resource Planners (NARRP) in Pittsburgh, the National Park Service recognized four States: Georgia, Oregon, Virginia and Wisconsin, for their exceptional efforts in statewide outdoor recreation planning and producing documents that exceeded the minimum requirement to qualify for LWCF assistance.  Of these four, Georgia was selected to receive the first joint NPS/NARRP SCORP Excellence award for its Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan 2008-2013, an exemplary approach in developing a solid vision and strategic plan for establishing and protecting places for public outdoor recreation. The contents of all four plans deserve consideration by planners charged with providing and protecting public outdoor recreation places and opportunities.