The land and water conservation fund (LWCF) state and local assistance program provides matching grants to develop parks owned by states and local communities

The Department of the Interior's National Park Service awarded a Project Grant of $6.98 million to the North Dakota Department of Parks and Recreation under the Outdoor Recreation Acquisition, Development and Planning program (CFDA 15.916) to support outdoor recreation infrastructure development. The award, effective June 24, 2025, with a completion date of December 23, 2029, will fund the development of recreational facilities and amenities at Downtown Gateway and Greenway in Grand Forks, North Dakota, through a subaward to the City of Grand Forks. These improvements will enhance public access to outdoor recreation spaces and benefit the general public through enhanced park and greenway infrastructure.

This project aligns with the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) State and Local Assistance Program's matching grant structure, which provides funding to states and local communities for park development projects identified in Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plans. The LWCF grant program is funded through offshore oil and gas lease revenue rather than federal tax dollars, and supports the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation areas and facilities nationwide. The North Dakota Department of Parks and Recreation, as the state's lead outdoor recreation agency, will administer the award and oversee the subaward to the City of Grand Forks for project implementation.

Based on its outdoor recreation priorities, the state has selected grant projects to receive LWCF funding. LWCF grants are made pursuant to 54 U.S.C. 2003 and are funded by offshore oil and gas lease revenue, not tax dollars. In this project, the north dakota department of parks and recreation will make a subaward to the city of grand forks for developments at downtown gateway and greenway. This project will benefit the general public.