Opportunity Information: Apply for P26AS00125
The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) Recurring Notice 5 Year is a discretionary grant opportunity from the National Park Service (NPS) that funds park and outdoor recreation projects in underserved or high-need communities located within defined qualifying areas. ORLP is part of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) State and Local Assistance Program, but it operates as an additional funding stream rather than replacing or reducing a state's traditional LWCF formula allocation. The core purpose is straightforward: expand and improve public outdoor recreation access by helping communities acquire new parkland and water access, and by developing, renovating, or modernizing outdoor recreation facilities that are open to the public.
Projects must be located in a "Qualifying Area." Under this notice, qualifying areas include urban areas with a population of 25,000 or more according to the most recent census, two or more adjacent urban areas whose combined population is at least 25,000, and areas administered by a federally recognized Indian Tribe or by an Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian community organization. In practical terms, this means the program is aimed at cities and urbanized places that meet the population threshold, while also ensuring eligibility for Tribal communities and eligible Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian community entities, even when their circumstances do not fit a typical municipal definition.
ORLP supports two broad categories of work. First, acquisition: purchasing land and water (or interests in land/water, as allowed under LWCF rules) for parks and other public outdoor recreation purposes. Second, development: building new outdoor recreation facilities or renovating existing ones, which can include upgrading aging parks, adding new amenities, improving usability, and addressing deferred maintenance when it is tied to recreation features. All funded work must produce outdoor recreation benefits that are available to the public, and the project scope must fit within LWCF purposes and requirements.
Several program requirements drive how projects must be planned and how sites must be managed long after construction is complete. ORLP is a dollar-for-dollar matching program, meaning federal funds can cover up to 50 percent of total eligible project costs and the applicant must provide at least 50 percent in non-federal match. The program also carries the LWCF "perpetuity" obligation: any park or site assisted with ORLP funds must be maintained and remain accessible for public outdoor recreation use forever. Importantly, that protection applies to the entire assisted park or site, not just the specific portion improved with grant dollars. Because ORLP is an LWCF program, projects must align with the LWCF Act and the LWCF Manual, which govern eligibility, conversions, long-term stewardship, and other compliance expectations common to LWCF-assisted sites.
The notice also emphasizes alignment with current Executive and Departmental priorities. Projects must be responsive to national direction referenced in the NOFO, including Executive Order 14313 establishing the President's Make America Beautiful Again Commission and Secretarial Order 3442 regarding LWCF implementation by the Department of the Interior. As a result, applicants should be prepared to explain not only the local recreation need and benefits, but also how the project advances these broader priorities (for example, improving outdoor access, enhancing community quality of life, and strengthening equitable recreation opportunities).
Eligibility is structured to reflect LWCF's state-based framework while expanding direct access for certain governments and community entities. In accordance with the EXPLORE Act (16 U.S.C. 8464), entities that may apply directly include State and Territorial Lead Agencies for all 50 states and eligible territories and jurisdictions (American Samoa, District of Columbia, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands), federally recognized Indian Tribes, Alaska Native communities or organizations (including Alaska Native Corporations such as Regional, Village, Urban, and Group Corporations), and Native Hawaiian communities or organizations (including Native Hawaiian Organizations and Native Hawaiian Homestead and Beneficiary Associations). Local governments and similar units, such as cities, counties, and special-purpose districts that manage open space (for example, park districts), are eligible as subrecipients but must apply through their State or Territorial Lead Agency. Urban Indian organizations are also eligible subrecipients and have flexibility to apply either through a State or Territorial Lead Agency or through a Tribal government.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a grant opportunity (Funding Instrument Type: Grant) managed by the National Park Service under CFDA 15.916. The opportunity number is P26AS00125, and the program is presented as a recurring notice over a five-year period, with an original closing date listed as 2030-11-01. The maximum federal award amount (award ceiling) is $15,000,000, and the notice anticipates approximately 35 awards. Taken together, the structure signals a program designed for substantial, high-impact urban and community recreation investments, with strong long-term stewardship obligations and a requirement that applicants bring meaningful non-federal matching resources to the table.Apply for P26AS00125
- The National Park Service in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) Recurring Notice 5 Year" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.916.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-08.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2030-11-01.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $15,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 35 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Others.
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Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) - Recurring Notice (5 Year) FAQs
What is the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP)?
The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) is a discretionary grant program from the National Park Service (NPS) that funds park and outdoor recreation projects in underserved or high-need communities located within defined qualifying areas.
What is ORLP trying to accomplish?
The program purpose is to expand and improve public outdoor recreation access. ORLP supports projects that help communities acquire new parkland and water access, and develop, renovate, or modernize outdoor recreation facilities that are open to the public.
How does ORLP relate to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)?
ORLP is part of the LWCF State and Local Assistance Program. It functions as an additional funding stream and does not replace or reduce a state’s traditional LWCF formula allocation.
What types of projects can ORLP fund?
ORLP supports two broad categories of projects: (1) acquisition and (2) development. Acquisition includes purchasing land and water (or interests in land/water, as allowed under LWCF rules) for parks and other public outdoor recreation purposes. Development includes building new outdoor recreation facilities or renovating existing ones, such as modernizing aging parks, adding amenities, improving usability, and addressing deferred maintenance when tied to recreation features.
Do funded projects have to be open to the public?
Yes. All funded work must produce outdoor recreation benefits that are available to the public, and the project scope must fit within LWCF purposes and requirements.
What is a "Qualifying Area" under this ORLP notice?
Projects must be located in a qualifying area. Under this notice, qualifying areas include: urban areas with a population of 25,000 or more according to the most recent census; two or more adjacent urban areas whose combined population is at least 25,000; and areas administered by a federally recognized Indian Tribe or by an Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian community organization.
Does ORLP only fund projects in cities?
The notice is aimed at urban areas meeting the population threshold, while also ensuring eligibility for Tribal communities and eligible Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian community entities, even when they do not fit typical municipal definitions.
Is ORLP a matching grant program?
Yes. ORLP is dollar-for-dollar matching, meaning federal funds can cover up to 50 percent of total eligible project costs. The applicant must provide at least 50 percent in non-federal match.
What does the LWCF "perpetuity" requirement mean for ORLP projects?
Any park or site assisted with ORLP funds must be maintained and remain accessible for public outdoor recreation use forever. The protection applies to the entire assisted park or site, not just the specific portion improved with grant dollars.
Do ORLP projects have to comply with LWCF rules and guidance?
Yes. Because ORLP is an LWCF program, projects must align with the LWCF Act and the LWCF Manual. These requirements govern eligibility, conversions, long-term stewardship, and other compliance expectations for LWCF-assisted sites.
Are there national priorities that ORLP projects are expected to align with?
Yes. The notice emphasizes responsiveness to national direction referenced in the NOFO, including Executive Order 14313 (establishing the President’s Make America Beautiful Again Commission) and Secretarial Order 3442 (regarding LWCF implementation by the Department of the Interior). Applicants should be prepared to explain how a project advances broader priorities such as improving outdoor access, enhancing community quality of life, and strengthening equitable recreation opportunities.
Who can apply directly for ORLP funding?
Entities that may apply directly include State and Territorial Lead Agencies for all 50 states and eligible territories and jurisdictions (American Samoa, District of Columbia, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands), federally recognized Indian Tribes, Alaska Native communities or organizations (including Alaska Native Corporations such as Regional, Village, Urban, and Group Corporations), and Native Hawaiian communities or organizations (including Native Hawaiian Organizations and Native Hawaiian Homestead and Beneficiary Associations).
Can a city, county, or park district apply directly?
Local governments and similar units (such as cities, counties, and special-purpose districts that manage open space, including park districts) are eligible as subrecipients but must apply through their State or Territorial Lead Agency.
Are Urban Indian organizations eligible?
Yes. Urban Indian organizations are eligible subrecipients and may apply either through a State or Territorial Lead Agency or through a Tribal government.
What federal agency administers ORLP?
The program is managed by the National Park Service (NPS).
What is the funding instrument type for this opportunity?
The funding instrument type is a Grant.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided is 15.916.
What is the opportunity number for this ORLP notice?
The opportunity number is P26AS00125.
How long is this notice open, and what is the closing date listed?
This is presented as a recurring notice over a five-year period, with an original closing date listed as 2030-11-01.
What is the maximum federal award amount?
The maximum federal award amount (award ceiling) is $15,000,000.
How many awards are expected?
The notice anticipates approximately 35 awards.
Can ORLP funds be used to purchase land or water access?
Yes. Acquisition is an eligible category, including purchasing land and water (or interests in land/water, as allowed under LWCF rules) for parks and other public outdoor recreation purposes.
Can ORLP funds be used to renovate or modernize existing parks?
Yes. Development funding can support renovating or modernizing existing outdoor recreation facilities, including upgrading aging parks, improving usability, adding amenities, and addressing deferred maintenance when tied to recreation features.
Does the long-term LWCF protection apply only to the part of the park improved with grant funds?
No. The perpetuity protection applies to the entire assisted park or site, not only the specific area improved with ORLP grant dollars.
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