Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program
Program Description
The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) is a nationally competitive grant program that provides matching grants to create outdoor recreation spaces and reinvigorate existing parks in qualifying urban communities. Grants are selected by the federal Department of the Interior's National Park Service, following a solicitation and nomination by the state.
The ORLP is a program within LWCF State and Local Assistance. ORLP was initiated in 2014 as a complement to the LWCF formula grant program. In 2024, Congress passed the EXPLORE Act, which further codified ORLP, established program priorities, and expanded eligibility to Tribal governments. Congress allocates money from the LWCF for ORLP, which is then awarded to eligible entities through a competitive process.
Congress established the Land and Water Conservation Fund in 1965 to create more recreational opportunities for, and strengthen the health and vitality of, the American people. LWCF’s State and Local Assistance Program provides matching grants to States, and through States to local units of government, for the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation sites and facilities. Since its inception, LWCF has funded over 46,000 projects across the country, totaling over $5 billion in investment.
ORLP at a Glance
| Estimated Total Funding Available | $125 million |
|---|---|
| Expected Award Amounts | $300,000 to $15 million |
| Estimated Number of Agreements to be Awarded | 35 |
| Matching Requirement | Dollar for dollar |
Program Goals
To acquire land and water for parks and other outdoor recreation purposes in qualifying areas, and develop new or renovate existing outdoor recreation facilities that provide outdoor recreation opportunities to the public in qualifying areas. The LWCF Act requires that any park or other outdoor recreation area benefitting from assistance from the LWCF, whether for acquisition or development purposes, and regardless of the amount or extent of assistance, not be covered to any use other than public outdoor recreation (see 54 U.S.C. 200305(f)(3)).
Eligibility
An urban area that has a population of 25,000 or more in the most recent census, or 2 or more adjacent urban areas with a combined population of 25,000 or more in the most recent census; or an area administered by a federally recognized Indian Tribe or an Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian community organization.
To determine if your jurisdiction and project are in a qualifying area, please click here.
Total Investment in Urban North Carolina Communities
ORLP Grants Awarded
| Project Sponsor | County | Project | Grant Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greensboro | Guilford | NOCHO | $4,384,286 | 2023 |
| Raleigh | Wake | Bailey Gateway Development at Walnut Creek Wetland Park | $845,249 | 2023 |
| Garner | Wake | Yeargan Park | 6,279,760 | 2025 |
| Raleigh | Wake | Smoky Hollow Park | 8,679,930 | 2025 |
| Buncombe County | Buncombe | Deaverview Mountain | 4,475,000 | 2025 |
Grant Application Cycle Overview
- Step 1: Pre-Application
- Step 2: Merit Review + Selection
- Step 3: Full application within 1 year of selection
- Step 4: Grant award with approved application and contract.
Current Grant Cycle Timeline
| July 1, 2026 | Notification of funding: Pre-application opens |
|---|---|
| July 15, 2026 | Opening webinar |
| October 1, 2026 | Pre-application deadline |
| November 1, 2026 - April 30, 2027 | Merit review and selection by ORLP Committee |
| May 1, 2027 | Announcements of projects selected to complete full application |
| November 1, 2027 | Deadline for full application submission |
| October 1, 2028 - September 30, 2031 | Anticipated project period for awarded projects |