The National Park Service (NPS) released the 2026 Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). ORLP is a nationally competitive grant program funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) that supports locally led projects that create, improve, or expand public outdoor recreation opportunities in communities.

ORLP funding may support projects such as the acquisition of land for public outdoor recreation, development of new parks and recreation facilities, and renovation or enhancement of existing outdoor recreation areas. Projects are intended to address community recreation needs and improve access to quality outdoor recreation opportunities.

Eligibility

The 2026 ORLP program includes updated eligibility requirements established under the EXPLORE Act. Applicants should carefully review the current NOFO to determine whether their proposed project meets all program requirements.

For local government applicants, the project must be located within a qualifying U.S. Census Bureau-designated urban area that meets one of the following criteria:

• An urban area with a population of 25,000 or more based on the most recent U.S. Census; or
• Two or more adjacent urban areas with a combined population of 25,000 or more.

Federally recognized Tribes, Alaska Native communities and organizations, and Native Hawaiian communities and organizations may apply under separate eligibility provisions and are not subject to the 25,000-population requirement.

ORLP is a 50/50 matching grant program. The program may reimburse up to 50 percent of eligible project costs, with the applicant responsible for providing at least 50 percent from eligible non-federal sources. Applicants are not required to have all matching funds committed at the time of initial application but must describe their proposed sources of match and the status of those funds.

Projects funded through ORLP must be maintained and remain available for public outdoor recreation use in perpetuity and must comply with applicable LWCF requirements, including the LWCF Act, the current LWCF Manual, and Alaska’s Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP).

Application Requirements

Applicants should carefully review the complete NOFO before beginning an application.

Applications generally require information and documentation addressing:

• The proposed project and the outdoor recreation need it will address;
• Project location and eligibility;
• Existing site conditions and proposed improvements;
• Community needs and benefits, including access to outdoor recreation;
• Project costs, budget, and matching funds;
• Project readiness and anticipated implementation schedule;
• Consistency with applicable outdoor recreation plans and LWCF requirements;
• Environmental, cultural resource, and other federal compliance considerations; and
• The applicant’s capacity to complete and maintain the project.

Applicants should ensure that proposed projects are sufficiently developed to demonstrate a clear community need, feasible project approach, realistic budget, and ability to meet federal requirements.

Important for Alaska Applicants

Meeting the population requirement alone does not guarantee eligibility or selection. Alaska applicants should confirm that the specific project site is located within a qualifying Census-designated urban area and meets all other ORLP eligibility requirements. For more information on Urban Areas, visit the Census Bureau’s Urban and Rural webpage and the Census Bureau’s Tiger web map.

The current ORLP program also provides opportunities for applicants to receive technical assistance as they develop their proposals.

Application Deadline

The current ORLP program uses a five-year NOFO with applications accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed annually. Applicants should review the current NOFO on Grants.gov for the official deadline, submission instructions, and any updates.

Learn More

Applicants should review the complete 2026 ORLP Notice of Funding Opportunity and the National Park Service’s ORLP resources before preparing an application.

• NPS – Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP)
• NPS – 2026 ORLP Program Updates
• NPS – ORLP Technical Assistance
• NPS – Ready to Apply

For questions regarding Alaska’s LWCF program or state-level requirements, please contact the Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, Land and Water Conservation Fund program via email at DNR.LWCFGrants@alaska.gov