National Park Service · Department of the Interior
Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) Recurring Notice 5 Year
In short: National Park Service expects to make 35 awards of $300,000 to $15 million. Open to tribal government or state government.
Key facts
- Deadline
- Accepts applications through Nov 1, 2030. Rounds may close sooner: check the notice
The funder says: “Applications are due on November 1st each year. Selections should be announced within four months of the application deadline. Applicants have one year from the date of their notification of selection to finalize a...” - Award size
- $300K – $15M
- Total available
- $85M · about 35 awards
- Match ?
- Required · Work out your budget and match
- Who can apply
- Tribal government, State government, and others named in the official notice
- Where
- Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee
How this fits you
- Available in Unicoi County (nationwide program)
- Population limit in the notice: “an urban area that has a population of 25,000 or more”. Check that yours qualifies
- Needs a match (see how much in the notice)
- Past Tennessee awards on file: 20
Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.
About this grant
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites applications for the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program, administered by the National Park Service (NPS). ORLP provides funding to 1) to acquire land and water for parks and other outdoor recreation purposes in qualifying areas, and 2) to develop new or renovate existing outdoor recreation facilities that provide outdoor recreation opportunities to the public in qualifying areas. ORLP is a program within the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) State and Local Assistance Program, which provides matching grants to States. ORLP funding is available in addition to traditional LWCF state formula grants and does not affect state apportionments.
ORLP projects must be within a Qualifying Area, defined as:
•
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.
Additional requirements under the ORLP program:
•
Matching Requirement - ORLP is dollar for dollar match, meaning it covers up to 50% of all project costs. Applicants are responsible for providing non-federal funds for at least 50% of project costs.
•
Perpetuity Requirement - Projects assisted through ORLP must be maintained and accessible for public outdoor recreation use in perpetuity. This applies to the assisted park or site in its entirety, not just the area assisted by the grant funds.
•
Alignment with LWCF Law and Policy - As an LWCF program, ORLP projects must align with the purposes and requirements of the LWCF Act and LWCF Manual.
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Alignment with National Priorities – Projects must be responsive to Executive and National priorities, including those outlined in Executive Order 14313, "Establishing the President's Make America Beautiful Again Commission" and Secretarial Order 3442, "Land and Water Conservation Fund Implementation by the U.S. Department of the Interior."
Who can apply, from the official notice
In accordance with the EXPLORE Act (16 U. · S. · C. § 8464), the following entities are eligible to apply directly for funding through the ORLP Program: State and Territorial Lead Agencies, in each of the 50 states as well as American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U. · S. Virgin Islands · About State and Territorial Lead Agencies - In accordance with the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Act (54 U. · S. · C. § 200305(a)), each state has a State Lead Agency designated by the state's Governor or by state legislation for the purposes of implementing LWCF. A State Lead Agency may submit applications on behalf of themselves or an eligible sub-recipient. · Indian Tribes, meaning any Indian or Alaska Native Tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or community that the Secretary of the Interior acknowledges to exist as an Indian Tribe (25 U. · S. · C. § 5130(2)) · Alaska Native communities or organizations, such as: Alaska Native Corporations including Regional Corporations, Village Corporations, Urban Corporations, and Group Corporations (43 U. · S. · C. § 1602(m)) · Native Hawaiian communities or organizations, such as: Native Hawaiian Organizations (54 U. · S. · C. § 300314) · Native Hawaiian Homestead and Beneficiary Associations (43 CFR § 47.10) · The following entities are eligible subrecipients and must apply through their State or Territorial Lead Agency: Political subdivision of a State or Territory, including cities and counties, or special purpose districts that manage open space, such as a park district. · The following entities are eligible subrecipients and may choose whether to apply through a State or Territorial Lead Agency, or Tribal Government: Urban Indian organizations (25 U. · S. · C. § 1603(h))
Official notice: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/89d165d3-00db-4330-bc9a-8be4444f2633 · Printed from grantme.click/grants/73565026-4eb9-4a5c-90ff-036db4d87139
View on Grants.gov Add deadline to my calendar
Your schedule, working back from the deadline
- Oct11
Check that your SAM.gov registration is active (or start it now)
Grants.gov: allow up to 10 business days for SAM registration, weeks or months if information isn't verified. It must be renewed every year. Grants.gov - Oct11
Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
Suggested: partners need about three weeks to write and sign letters. - Oct25
Finish a complete draft for a final review
Suggested: leave about a week for someone else to read the draft. - Oct30
Submit
Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog - Nov1
Deadline
From the funder.
Save this grant to put these dates in My grants and your private calendar.
Writing the need statement? Unicoi County facts with citations.
What the official notice requires
Pulled from the official notice ORLP_NOFO_FAQ_091426.pdf (16 pages) so you can see the requirements at a glance. Each item shows the notice's own words. Open the page to read it in context.
Award size and project length
Award amounts here are for the whole project · p. 13
“Total project costs can exceed $15 million.” Open page 13
Registrations you need first (1)
Grants.gov · p. 3
“--------------------------------------------- 16 Who can I contact if I have questions about Grants.gov functionality or need assistance submitting my application (i.e., creating an account, uploading attachments, etc.)?” Open page 3
Registration is free but can take weeks, so start now, not when the deadline is close. Get-ready checklist
What to submit
Budget narrative / justification · p. 3
“----------------------------------- 14 What should I include in the budget narrative?” Open page 3
Letters of support or commitment · p. 9
“Some best practices for demonstrating this shared use include, but are not limited to, letters of support from the communities, existing partnerships, etc.” Open page 9
Form SF-424 · p. 9
“Only the directly eligible applicant (a State Lead Agency) will be listed on the SF-424 as part of an ORLP application package, and they are responsible for coordinating the application.” Open page 9
Memorandum of understanding (MOU) · p. 10
“In these cases, the eligible sub-recipient and the nonprofit would need to have a permanent recreation easement, and a long-term management plan or MOU, with the understanding that this site must be kept open for outdoor recreation use in perpetuity (Refer…” Open page 10
Cost share or match
Cost share / match · p. 13
“Virgin Islands do not need to provide 50% non-Federal cost share.” Open page 13
Mistakes that get applications rejected (1)
Not an eligible applicant: Applications for projects in Census-Designated Urban Areas that were not submitted through a lead agency... · p. 4
“Applications for projects in Census-Designated Urban Areas that were not submitted through a lead agency are ineligible and will not be considered for funding.” Open page 4
Files from the official listing
The notice, forms and templates the agency attached. Some programs ask for a letter of intent or a form before the full application.
- ORLP_NOFO_071526.docx (298 KB)
Notice of Funding Opportunity - ORLP_NOFO_FAQ_091426.pdf (425 KB)
Frequently Asked Questions - Detailed_Budget_LWCF_Grants.xlsx (107 KB)
Budget Template
Who in Tennessee has won this program
19 awards to Tennessee groups in 1 county since 2014 · 0 in Unicoi County. Largest shown:
Source: Federal Audit Clearinghouse; USAspending.gov. Past awards show who this program funds. They don't guarantee future awards.
Tennessee groups that got this money through Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
This federal money also reaches local groups as pass-through grants. In Tennessee, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation passes it on: watch that agency for applications, not the federal agency. 1 pass-through grant on file · 0 in Unicoi County. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Through | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Town of Farragut Town Hall | Farragut, Knox County | Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation | $2.8M spent that year | 2025 |
Source: USAspending.gov pass-through reports (the first recipient reports each one of $30,000 or more).
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About the federal program
Outdoor Recreation Acquisition, Development and Planning, also called “LWCF”
Program number 15.916 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service · Formula grant (amounts set by a formula), project grant
How applications are judged
Specific evaluation criteria will be included in the funding announcements posted on www.grants.gov.
At the Federal level each project must be in accordance with a SCORP. Beyond this, the selection of projects is made by the State Liaison Officer of each State who is responsible for the administration of the program in their State. Each State has its own selection process and project rating system, which is approved by the National Park Service.
Match
Statutory Formula: Title 54, Part 05, Subpart b,Public Law 88-578.Formula grants are apportioned to each State based on a formula in the LWCF Act.Cost Share Requirements are detailed in the applicable Notice of Funding Opportunity: The LWCF Act requires that the share of federal funds does not exceed 50 percent of the total project cost. Generally, match must be derived from State, local, or private sources, but under certain conditions all or part of the project sponsor's matching share may be from other Federal assistance programs, such as Community Development Block Grants, when such use is allowable under the other program�s sponsoring legislation.
Exception for Insular Areas: American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not need to provide 50% non-Federal cost share. These areas can receive full (100%) federal funding.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal year 2025: 1) Park and Trail Development: Construction of new multi-use trails, including footbridges and pathways, to improve access to natural areas. Development of community parks with features like walking paths, picnic areas, and open green spaces.
2) Campground and Facility Improvements: Renovation or construction of campgrounds, including the addition of restrooms, roads, and support infrastructure. Installation of comfort stations and vault toilets to enhance visitor amenities.
3) Playgrounds and Recreation Areas: Rehabilitation of playgrounds to meet safety standards and improve accessibility. Installation of splash pads, dog parks, and sports courts to expand recreational offerings.
4) Visitor and Interpretive Centers: Construction or renovation of visitor service buildings to support educational programming and park operations. Enhancements to interpretive facilities that promote cultural and environmental education.
5) Infrastructure and Accessibility Upgrades: Improvements to park infrastructure, such as lighting, signage, and ADA-compliant pathways. Renovation of historic structures and public-use facilities to ensure long-term sustainability.
6) Land...