Land and Water Conservation Grant 2026

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), administered in Maryland by the Department of Natural Resources’ Land Acquisition and Planning Unit, offers financial support for outdoor recreation projects through land acquisition and the development or renovation of recreational amenities. Established by the U.S. Congress in 1965 and signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson, the fund aims to create a lasting national legacy of quality public outdoor recreation areas. Funded through revenues from offshore oil and gas leases, the LWCF provides 50/50 matching grants to state and local governments for relevant projects. Oversight of the program at the national level is provided by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s National Park Service. Maryland’s LWCF grants are reimbursement-based and require a dollar-for-dollar match from non-federal sources, though some federal programs such as the Recreational Trails Fund and Community Development Block Grants are allowable matches. Acceptable non-federal matches may also include state-level grants like Program Open Space and Community Parks and Playgrounds, though these retain their own matching requirements. All LWCF-funded sites must be permanently dedicated to public outdoor recreational use and be completed within three years of award, with an optional two-year extension. Applicants must be government entities, including state agencies, counties, municipalities, special districts, or federally recognized tribes. The current application round is open until 5:00 PM on June 25. This involves a two-step process: submission of a preliminary application through the Open Project Selection Process (OPSP), followed by an invitation to successful applicants to submit a full application to the National Park Service. The application period is open now, and successful applicants will be notified by September 15. Those selected will collaborate with the Maryland DNR into early 2026 to complete necessary federal documentation. The minimum grant request is $50,000 (requiring a $100,000 project total), and the maximum is $2,000,000 (requiring a $4,000,000 project total). Exceptions to these limits may be granted at the discretion of the Department depending on funding availability and project proposals. A webinar covering the application process was held on April 17, and meetings for prospective applicants with DNR representatives are available from May 1 to May 31, though participation is not mandatory. All applicants are required to align their projects with Maryland’s current Land Preservation and Recreation Plan, covering 2019 to 2023. The program has supported over 400 projects statewide. For further inquiries, interested parties may contact Molly Pickel at molly.pickel@maryland.gov or 443-223-4302. Detailed application documents and selection criteria are provided online and include separate materials for local and state projects.