Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Program

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), led by Secretary Rebecca Tepper, administers the Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Program. This program is funded through the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which is overseen nationally by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s National Park Service. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts receives these funds to support the acquisition, development, and renovation of outdoor recreation and conservation areas. The LWCF program aims to ensure that communities throughout the nation have access to high-quality outdoor recreation facilities while preserving natural resources for future generations. It promotes partnerships between federal, state, and local governments to invest in the protection and enhancement of public lands. The program provides financial assistance to Massachusetts municipalities, certain state agencies, and federally recognized Indian tribes for eligible projects that expand or improve public recreation opportunities. Eligible projects include the acquisition of parkland or conservation land, the creation of new parks, the renovation of existing facilities, and the development of trails in established recreation areas. The program emphasizes projects that enhance climate resilience, such as converting vacant lots to green spaces, increasing urban tree canopies, and incorporating design elements that reduce heat islands and manage stormwater. All LWCF-funded properties become permanently protected under Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution, ensuring that they remain open to the public for appropriate recreational uses. Applicants must demonstrate full project funding capacity before reimbursement, as LWCF is a reimbursement-based program covering up to 50% of eligible project costs. Municipalities must obtain a City Council or Town Meeting vote appropriating the total project cost, while state departments must have EEA capital budget approval. Eligible costs include design, engineering, construction, supervision, and land acquisition incurred after contract execution. Ineligible costs include staff salaries, application preparation, and pre-contract expenditures. The maximum grant award is $1,000,000, with a minimum of $50,000. In exceptional cases where a project demonstrates superior climate resilience, the Secretary may approve an award above $1,000,000. Applications must be submitted via the EEA Grant Management System (GMS) by Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 3:00 PM Eastern Time. Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend one of two information sessions, either in person on November 17, 2025, or virtually on December 3, 2025. The proposal package must include the application form, the municipality’s Open Space and Recreation Plan, and, for acquisition projects, a compliant appraisal completed under Yellow Book standards. Applicants must also mail a hard copy of their submission to EEA. Acquisition applicants must contact the grant manager by December 5, 2025, to coordinate appraisals. Projects will be evaluated according to consistency with state and federal recreation goals, alignment with community and agency plans, benefits to Environmental Justice populations, accessibility for people with disabilities, and climate resilience design. The review process involves the EEA Division of Conservation Services, a project selection committee, the Secretary of EEA, the Governor, and final approval by the National Park Service. Awards are expected to be announced approximately 100 days after the application deadline, and contracts will commence around December 14, 2026. All awarded projects must be completed, and all expenditures reimbursed by December 31, 2028. Program inquiries may be directed to Melissa Cryan, Grant Manager, at melissa.cryan@mass.gov or (857) 274-7173.

Ensure OSRP approval before submission; do not incur costs before contract execution; contact grant manager by December 5, 2025, for acquisition appraisals.