Grant Opportunities

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is federally funded through the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. The program is intended to create and maintain a nationwide legacy of high-quality outdoor recreation areas and facilities.

Land and Water Conservation Fund grants are available to cities, counties and school districts to be used for outdoor recreation projects. Projects require a 50% match. All funded projects must be maintained in perpetuity for public outdoor recreational purposes. Development and renovation projects must be maintained for a period of 25 years or the life of the manufactured goods.

Since 1965, Missouri has received more than $87 million for projects in every county in the state.

In Missouri, LWCF is currently available to local governments and public schools for the acquisition, development and renovation of outdoor recreation sites.

The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) is a grant program funded through the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. The ORLP Grant was created in 2014 as a complement to the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant program. The national competitive ORLP program provides matching grants to cities for park projects in underserved communities. These investments enable urban communities to create new outdoor recreation spaces, reinvigorate existing parks, and form connections between people and outdoors.

For the years of 2025 through 2029, the National Park Service (NPS) has issued a five-year recurring Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the ORLP Grant. These five years of ORLP grants will be based on funds made available by Congress in the current and future fiscal years. Unused funds from prior years, if available and subject to congressional action, may provide additional funds to the overall available amount. Each year, the total anticipated number of recommended projects nationwide is 25-40 projects. NPS will be accepting application for the ORLP grant twice a year. Please be advised that the NPS anticipates a minimum of a three-month review process before a project is recommended for funding. To remain eligible for funding, selected projects must submit a full ORLP application to the NPS for final review within one year of the project award announcement. Upon NPS’ final review and approval of the full application, the project will be awarded funds. Eligible applicants include state agencies and local governments such as cities; counties; and special-purpose districts, such as park districts. The state agency or local government must be located within a community that is determined to be underserved and that had a population of 25,000 or more in the 2020 census.
 
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Division of State Parks has been designated the lead funding agency in Missouri. The department is currently accepting ORLP project applications. The maximum funding amount that a project can request is $15 million, with a minimum funding request of $300,000. Project applications must be submitted to the Division of Missouri State Parks by March 25 and Aug. 19 of each year. If a project is selected for funding, the Grants Management Staff will work with the applicant to compile and complete an ORLP application. The department will submit the application on the applicant’s behalf to the National Park Service.

For submission of a project application, please review the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Application questions and application should be submitted to [email protected].

For your awareness, if the application is larger than 8 MB, please send an email to [email protected] requesting a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) link. If the applicant has a server that is able to share files, please email [email protected] for awareness that a ORLP application is being submitted and who the application is coming from.

• National Park Service Notice of Funding Opportunity
• Instructions for Applicants
• Application Checklist
• Budget Narrative Sample
• Project Narrative Sample
• Project Abstract Summary
• Project Images Worksheet
• SF424
• SF424C
• SF424D
• SFLLL
• SF429B
• SF429 Cover Page
• Project Resolution Template
• Financial Assurance Letter Template
• Business Entity Certification
• LWCF Boundary Map Checklist

* These forms must be downloaded to be viewed and filled out.

View the ORLP information webinar hosted by the City Parks Alliance.

The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is federally funded through the Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The purpose of this program is to promote motorized and nonmotorized recreational trails.

Recreational Trails Program grants are available to local and state governments, school districts and nonprofit organizations and businesses. Eligible project categories include constructing new recreational trails, maintaining or renovating existing trails, developing or renovating trailheads or trail amenities, acquiring land for recreational trails, or purchasing or leasing trail maintenance equipment. Project sponsors must contribute a minimum match of 20% of the total cost of the project.

Missouri has received $25 million since the program began in 1993 for projects throughout the state.

The Bus Grant Program assists schools and nonprofit organizations with the transportation expenses of field trips and outdoor learning opportunities at Missouri state parks and historic sites. Bus grants have been made available to Missouri schools and youth-focused nonprofit organizations throughout the state.

The Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) Grant program is federally funded through the National Park Service. It finances local activities for the preservation of historic buildings and archaeological sites.

HPF grants are available to local governments and non-profits with a preservation mission. A majority of our grant funds are reserved for Certified Local Governments in good standing. Applicants must contribute a minimum match of 40% of the total project cost. Eligible projects include:

• Construction projects for the purpose of protecting, rehabilitating, or restoring historic properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places
• Pre-construction projects to plan care for historic properties
• Nominating properties to the National Register of Historic Places
• Architectural and Archaeological surveys to determine National Register eligibility
• Training for historic preservation commissioners
• Internships on preservation projects
• Local preservation planning activities such as preservation plans, historic contexts, and design guidelines