Wednesday, August 25, 2021 - 03:52 pm

The North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department (NDPRD) is soliciting applications for the FY21 Land and Water Conservation Fund starting Wednesday, September 1 through Thursday, September 30, 2021.  

The Land and Water Conservation Fund is a federal program funded by offshore oil and gas royalties that was created by Congress in 1964 to safeguard natural areas, water resources, cultural heritage and to provide recreation opportunities to all Americans. This 50/50 matching grant reimbursement program is administered at the state level by NDPRD and funded at the federal level by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS). The LWCF provides grants for outdoor recreation projects such as ball fields, pools, campgrounds, playgrounds, and land acquisitions for park development. With the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), the LWCF will be permanently funded; approximately $2.5 million will be administered to the State of North Dakota annually.

Eligible project sponsors include cities, counties, and townships; park and school districts; state agencies; water management districts and federally recognized Indian tribes.   

Listed below are projects that were selected for funding this past year (FY20): 

  1. Bismarck Parks and Recreation District – Lions Acquisition  
  1. Grand Forks Park District – Montgomery Field Turf Renovation 
  1. City of Mercer – Mercer Memorial Park 
  1. Bismarck Parks and Recreation District – Sertoma Fitness Lot Improvements 
  1. Mountrail County Park Board – Van Hook Recreation Area West Bathhouse 
  1. Gackle Park Board – Little Park Update 
  1. Turtle Lake -Mercer Public School – Playground Improvement 

Sponsors are required to be Title VI compliant, and any non-compliant sponsors can become certified during the review of applications and before granted funding. For more information, contact Char Langehaug, Grants Coordinator at cbinstock@nd.gov, (701) 328-5364 or visit www.parkrec.nd.gov/business

The mission of the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department is to offer a diversity of recreation opportunities and sustainably manage resources.