LOCAL APPLICATIONS ARE DUE SEPTEMBER 13, 2024.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) is accepting grant applications for the Land and Water Conservation Fund program until September 13, 2024. The program provides 50 percent reimbursement to selected outdoor recreation projects that are sponsored by political subdivisions and other appropriate public agencies. Since 1965, Kansas has received over $50 million and funded approximately 800 LWCF projects in nearly every county. Qualifying projects include development and/or acquisition of outdoor facilities for the purpose of public recreation.

Upon receiving 2024 applications, KDWP will review each project to confirm that it is in accord with the eligibility requirements specified in the LWCF guidelines. Eligible projects will include all required documentation, and meet needs identified in the 2021 Kansas Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP).

The LWCF Application guidelines and forms are offered in a word document format, which can be downloaded from the Grant Applications page of the KDWP website. Please answer each question directly and thoroughly and be sure to make reference to supporting documentation where necessary.

The Federal Standard Forms (SF-424) for Budget Information and Compliance Assurance are also required. These forms can be obtained at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/lwcf/lwcf-forms.htm. Please pay close attention to which forms are required for construction projects, and which are required for non-construction projects.

For more information, contact Riston Landwehr, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, 512 SE 25th Avenue, Pratt, KS 67124 at 620-672-5911 or riston.landwehr@ks.gov.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) is now accepting applications for Recreational Trails Funding. 

Applications must be postmarked or emailed by November 15th, 2024.  The program provides 80 percent reimbursement to selected outdoor recreation projects. Projects that provide for motorized recreation activities are encouraged, as 30% of the funding is to be devoted to motorized projects. Qualifying projects include new trail or trailhead construction, maintenance or reconstruction of existing trails, enhancements or upgrades to existing trails/trailheads, development and planning, or land acquisition and easements.  Your application must include the completed forms available for download below and a detailed cost breakdown along with a detailed site plan. This program is very similar to the Land and Water Conservation Program. Many of the same guidelines, forms and documentation will be utilized. Generally, overhead or administrative costs will not be funded from this program, but a portion of these costs may be used as part of the local match. The objective of the program is to get trails and trail facilities on the ground and not to fund administration. The local match must be detailed on the application form and may not be from any other Federal source. All projects selected must fall into one or more of three categories: motorized, non-motorized, or diversified recreational trail or trail-related projects. Proposals that provide for improved ADA and environmental impacts will receive a high priority.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Trails Advisory Board will hold a public meeting in the spring of 2025. The purpose of this meeting will be for hearing and discussing the projects submitted for funding under the Recreational Trails Fund Act. 

Persons interested in commenting on projects should attend this meeting. Grant applicants are encouraged to attend and discuss their proposals. Time for comments will be limited. Final decisions about proposals will not be made at this meeting. The Board will evaluate and make recommendations after reviewing all applications.

For more information, contact Cherie Riffey, Trail Grant Coordinator, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, 512 SE 25th Avenue, Pratt, Kansas 67124, at 620-672-5911. The building is accessible. If notified in advance, the department will have an interpreter available for the hearing impaired. To request an interpreter, call the TDD Service at 1-800-766-3777. An individual with a disability may request other accommodations by contacting Cherie Riffey at 620-672-5911.

Helpful links for completion of the Recreational Trails Grant

Recreational Trails Grant Application

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW DUE NOVEMBER 15, 2024. Submission deadline will be EXTENDED to February 7, 2025.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Division of State Parks, is pleased to announce a new funding opportunity, the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP). This grant program is funded through the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. The program was created in 2014 as a complement to the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant program and seeks to provide new or significantly improved recreation opportunities in economically disadvantaged communities.

For 2022, a total of $192 million were available nationwide for outdoor recreation projects (a combination of grant funds appropriated by Congress in FY22 and unused funds from prior years). Eligible applicants include other state agencies and local governments such as cities, counties, and special purpose districts, such as park districts, within, or abutting, a city with a population of at least 25,000 people. The park must also be within a disadvantaged tract or directly abutting a tract that is defined disadvantaged. The Climate and Economic Justice Screening Website can be used to justify eligibility: https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/.

The project request amount is a maximum of $10,000,000 and a minimum of $300,000. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks has been designated the lead agency in Kansas. We are currently accepting project applications. If your project is selected, the LWCF Grant Coordinator of Kansas State Parks will work with you to submit an application on your behalf to the National Park Service. To submit a Grant Applications please review the notice of funding opportunity and submit the required application information.

For applications, download the PDF files in Grant Applications or for additional questions contact KDWP by clicking on Grant Questions.