Organization:

U.S. Department of Interior (USDOI) / National Park Service (NPS) (implemented by GADNR)

FY25 Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program

Application Program Information Webinar GranT Information

Last Updated:

May 21, 2025

Type:

Federal

State,

Private,

Other

Status:

Closed; Last cycle January 2025-March 2025

Years Funded:

Annual Program Amount:

Minimum Project Cost:

$600,000

Annual Award Amount (min):

Annual Award Amount (max):

$15,000,000

Eligible Activities:

Planning

Design

Construction

State,

Private,

Other

Match:

50% minimum

Eligible Applicants:

Local Government

State Government

Federally Recognized Tribes & Affiliated Groups

Metropolitan Planning Organizations

State,

Private,

Other

Description

The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program provides matching grants to cities for park projects in underserved communities. These investments enable urban communities to create new outdoor recreation spaces, reinvigorate existing parks, and form connections between people and the outdoors. From picnic tables to playgrounds, ORLP funding invests in outdoor recreation and the facilities needed to enjoy and use community parks. Accessible playgrounds, biking trails, and campgrounds have all been made possible through ORLP grants aimed at improving local access to outdoor recreation. Over $100 million in Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership grant funding has been invested nationwide. Managed by the National Park Service and funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the nationally competitive ORLP program provides matching grants (up to 50% of total project costs) to assist communities with little to no access to outdoor recreation opportunities in urban areas. Funds can be used for the acquisition and/or development of, or to substantially renovate public parks and other outdoor recreation spaces.

Eligible Projects

Assistance is available for a wide range of outdoor recreation uses and the facilities needed to support the use and enjoyment of these areas. These include, but are not limited to: • community parks • tracks for walking or biking

Best Practices

This competition will prioritize the selection of projects that:

As green and blue spaces, and tree cover help to cool the air, reduce pollution, and have positive effects on mental and physical health, nature-based park projects will earn a 5-point bonus. Nature-based projects are those where nature is a major element of, or strongly supports, the proposed recreational activity.

Additional benefits beyond the above may assist a project in standing apart from other projects, but they cannot be used as a replacement for the stated priority. Additional benefits may include, but are not limited to, projects that: expand public-private partnerships to leverage matching share resources (e.g. money or donated lands, supplies or services); provide economic benefits to the local community (e.g. short or long-term jobs or stimulation to local business near the park); use sustainable design/materials; include site features that consider the needs of all demographics, and/or; involve the redevelopment of a blighted or distressed property.

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