Applications Now Being Accepted for Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program Grants

For Immediate Release: 8/19/2022

Applications Now Being Accepted for Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program Grants

Funds help with the acquisition or development of new local parks

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—California State Parks is now accepting applications from public entities to provide outdoor recreational experiences to their communities through the federal Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP). In the sixth phase of this competitive grant program, a total of $192 million is available nationwide for communities with limited or no access to publicly available, close-by, outdoor recreation opportunities.

“Everyone deserves to have access to high-quality outdoor experiences,” stated State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “A pool, hiking trails, picnic areas and soccer fields can bring people, families and communities together and build healthy communities. We invite public entities to compete for this program.”

ORLP is a federal National Park Service grant program established in 2014 and funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The program funds the acquisition or development of new parks, or substantially renovate parks in economically disadvantaged cities or towns of at least 30,000 people. Eligible applicants include cities, counties, state agencies, federally recognized Native American Tribes, Joint Powers Authorities where all members are public agencies, park districts, and special districts with authority to acquire, operate and maintain public park and recreation areas. The maximum grant request amount per application for this round is $10 million.

Public entities in California interested in applying for the program must submit their application to State Park’s Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS) for review. The most competitive applications selected by the state that best meet the ORLP intent are then forwarded to National Park Service (NPS) to compete in the nationwide ORLP competition.

NPS established two application opportunities through Round 6, referenced as Round 6A and 6B. As such, to meet the need, California has set the following initial application deadlines: Round 6A – September 1, 2022, and Round 6B – December 15, 2022.

Applications received from Round 6A will be selected by October 2022. From October 2022 through January 2023, applicants with the most competitive applications will receive guidance from OGALS in consultation with NPS on how to complete the full federal application. For additional program information such as project eligibility requirements, to register for an upcoming application workshop, and access the online application portal, please visit California’s ORLP webpage.

OGALS develops grant programs to provide funding for local, state and nonprofit organization projects. Since 1964, more than 7,700 community parks throughout California have been created or improved from OGALS’ grant funding. Since 2000, the program has administered approximately $3.8 billion in grant funding throughout California.

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California State Parks provides for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high quality outdoor recreation.