Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Program
Application Period: August 1 - October 31, 2024 (5:00PM Deadline)
Overview: The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is a federal grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service (NPS). LWCF consists of two parts or sides: the federal and the state side. The latter, administered in partnership with individual states and U.S. territories, provides grants for projects featuring "close-to-home" outdoor recreational opportunities for the public. (Note: Under the provisions of this competitive grant program, boroughs, municipalities, and other local government entities must protect LWCF-assisted parklands or parks infrastructure in perpetuity.)
Alaska: The LWCF program has served as an essential catalyst in all 50 states in helping create a wide diversity of outdoor recreational resources. More than $40 million in LWCF grants has been invested in over 350 projects in Alaska since the inception of the LWCF program in 1965. Locally sponsored projects vary widely. Examples include: a skate park in Sitka; ball fields in Utqiagvik; connecting trails in Haines and Metlakatla; the Campbell Creek Greenbelt and Chanshtnu Muldoon Townsquare Park within the Municipality of Anchorage; and a community garden in Bethel. LWCF grants have also assisted State-sponsored sites such as Chugach State Park, Clam Gulch State Recreation Area (SRA), Nancy Lake (SRA), Chena River (SRA), and Old Kasilof Landing (SRA).
Eligible Applicants: State, regional or local governments, and federally recognized tribal governments, with the legal authority to provide park and recreation services on public lands are eligible to apply for LWCF assistance.
Funding Priorities: See attachments labeled "Regional Needs: Prioritized" and "Public, Land Managers & Tribal Survey Needs_Prioritized"
Start Early: The application is extensive and requires a great deal of backup information or coordination with other agencies, so start early!
For example, at least 30 days prior to the due date...
- Post public notice of the potential project in your area and elicit/track/respond to public comments
- Contact the State Historic Preservation Office in writing with information on your project and request a Section 106 determination as to any effects on cultural or historic properties
- Contact various agencies (local biologists, USFWS, etc) to determine potential impacts to the environment and wildlife. See examples of responses to Table 1 & 2 of the A&R form, and IPAC information.
To see required forms, examples, and resources to use if applying for an LWCF grant, click the following links:
A&R Form for Applications
Grant Application
Pre-Award Inspection Report
Examples
APE Map: Example
Budget: Example & Blank
Project Abstracts: Example
Project Timeframe & Milestones: Example
Section 106 Request for Review: Example
LWCF Boundary Map: Example
Maps and Site Plans: Examples
Resolution: Example
Naming Conventions: Example
Examples_Environmental Backup Docs
Resources
Categorical Exclusions from 2015 NEPA Handbook
Frequently Asked Questions
424c* and 424d*
Evaluation Score Sheet with SCORP Goals
Open Project Selection Process (OPSP)
Public, Land Managers & Tribal Survey Needs_Prioritized
Regional Needs: Prioritized
SCORP 2023-2027
*Note: If you are having issues opening these documents in your web browser, right-click on the hyperlink and select 'Save link as...' to download it to your device. It should function properly using your device's PDF reading application.
For more information, contact the Grants Section manager at danette.berkovitz@alaska.gov or 907-269-8706.
