Funded through the National Park Service’s Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program, the Department if Interior announced $46.7 million in grants will be awarded to 10 projects in 8 states. The program, which was started in 2014, helps fund the creation or improvement if outdoor recreation spaces to economically disadvantaged communities.
This is the programs second round of grants this year after $58.3 million in grants were awarded to 14 projects in March.
“The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program has consistently remained one of the Interior Department’s most impactful programs investing in urban and disadvantaged communities,” Jackie Ostfeld, Campaign Director of Sierra Club’s Outdoors for All, said. “Over the past 10 years it has continued to provide grant funding to communities across the nation, bolstering existing parks and recreation opportunities, creating new ones for millions of people to enjoy.”
According to a press release from Sierra Club, the following project will be funded:
- Cleveland, Ohio
- The city will receive $461,332 to create two park areas, one with a playground, splash pad, game tables, and more. The other will have picnic tables and an open-use playfield.
- Des Moines, Iowa
- The city will receive $5,291,000 to add a playground, splash pad, open-air shelters, stormwater management, and more to Birdland Park and Marina.
- Houston, Texas
- The city will receive $10,000,000 to improve MacGregor Park, including updating existing infrastructure and sports amenities.
- New Brunswick, New Jersey
- The city will receive $2,041,770 to create a new park with a dog park, play areas, and shade trees.
- Porterville, California
- The city will receive $2,500,000 to create a new park on undeveloped land, including native drought-tolerant plants, sport courts, and solar lighting.
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- The city will receive $8,679,930 to develop and restore Smoky Hollow Park, including erosion control, park amenities, native meadows, and more.
“Grants from the Land and Water Conservation Fund are making access to recreational opportunities possible across the country,” David L. Bernhardt, Interior Secretary, said. “We look forward to working with our state and local partners to increase the considerable benefits derived from our local parks and outdoor recreation areas.”
The program provides matching grants, up to 50 percent of the total project costs, to “enable urban communities to create new outdoor recreation spaces, reinvigorate existing parks, and form connections between people and the outdoors,” according to National Park Service.
“With 84 percent of Americans living in urban areas, it is critical that we not only create new opportunities for the population to spend beneficial time outdoors, but work to preserve and maintain the existing beloved community parks and spaces,” Ostfeld said.
COMMENTS