April 18, 2016 - Secretary Jewell Announces Nearly $95 Million in Funding for all 50 States Through the Land and Water Conservation Fund
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced the fiscal year 2016 stateside funding allocation which will be distributed from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to all 50 States, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia to support conservation and recreation projects in local communities. The announcement came ahead of Jewell's major conservation address at the National Geographic Society. See the press release.
March 9, 2016 - National Park Service Offers $15 Million in Grants for Outdoor Recreation in Cities
National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis today opened the application period for $15 million of grants to develop outdoor recreation spaces in urban areas.
"We are excited to offer these competitive grants which will be matched with local partnerships to create safe outdoor recreation places for people, especially young people, in neighborhoods of America's cities," Jarvis said.
The National Park Service (NPS) Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) competitive grants are made available through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and are just the second round of such grants. The NPS obligated $2.9 million of the grants for pilot projects last year. Communities and partners matched that money with projects in eight cities worth a total of $6.1 million. See the press release.
August 13, 2015 - Secretary Jewell Announces $42.8 Million in Funding to All 50 States Promoting Outdoor Recreation, Conservation
Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell was joined by Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson in announcing the distribution of $42.8 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to all 50 States, the Territories, and the District of Columbia for state-identified outdoor recreation and conservation projects. See the press release and the allocations to each State and Territory for 2015.June 18, 2015 - NPS and SORP Recognize the State of Delaware for Excellence in Outdoor Recreation Planning
The National Park Service and the Society for Outdoor Recreation Professionals have selected Delaware's current Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, Delaware Outdoors: Building an Outdoor Legacy,to receive the 2015 SCORP Excellence Award. The purpose of the SCORP Excellence Award is to showcase the efforts of a State or Territory that embraces the spirit and intent of the LWCF Act's call for comprehensive planning and implementation. The award is jointly presented by the NPS and SORP at SORP's annual conference, held this year in Annapolis, MD. In particular, Delaware was recognized for developing a GIS model that helps the state evaluate both outdoor recreation supply and demand in the context of local communities' unique characteristics. The flexibility of the model will support the State's ability to dynamically forecast public recreation needs in the context of changing conditions over a long planning horizon.Delaware is the 6th recipient of this award, which in prior years has recognized Oregon (2014), Wisconsin (2013), Pennsylvania (2011), Colorado (2010), and Georgia (2009). See Delaware's SCORP and the State's press release on the award.