Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)

A Program of the Department of the Interior, National Park Service

The Land and Water Conservation Fund is a visionary and bipartisan program, established by Congress in 1964 to create parks and open spaces, protect wilderness, wetlands, and refuges, preserve wildlife habitat, and enhance recreational opportunities. From parks to playgrounds, wilderness to wetlands, bicycle paths to hiking trails, LWCF has helped communities acquire nearly seven million acres of parkland, water resources, and open space. LWCF has also underwritten the development of more than 37,000 state and local park and recreation projects. LWCF is one of the most important conservation tools ever designed.

Federal Fiscal Year 2008 Funding Opportunities
As of March 2007, there is the possibility of Federal (LWCF) grant money being appropriated for parks acquisition, development and rehabilitation projects in federal fiscal year 2008 (beginning October 1, 2007).

After considering the following information, if you are a local government (not-for-profits are not eligible) and wish this application to be considered for LWCF funding, please so indicate on the application.

There are some differences between the LWCF and the State funded programs listed below. Different and additional federal grant requirements would also have to be satisfied prior to receiving LWCF funding.

The following are not eligible under LWCF:

• Not-for profit corporations
• Indoor recreational facilities
• Appraisals and legal fees
• Payment advances
• The value of municipally-owned land as matching share
• The acquisition of parkland without prior approval of the National Park Service
• State funds are eligible for match, certain restrictions apply

Additional Environmental Review Requirements:
The project sponsor will be required to provide any additional information to OPRHP needed to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act.

Any permit that may be required must be submitted to OPRHP in order to obtain final Federal approval of the grant. Documentation that the permit has been requested must be submitted with this application.

Conversion Information
The Macomb's Dam Park, New York, New York, decision documents associated with the NPS approval of a LWCF Section 6(f) conversion can be found on New York City's Park and Recreation website at http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/nyy_stadium/html/nyy_redevelopment.html.