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 National Park Service's Outdoor Recreation Acquisition, Development and Planning program (CFDA 15.916) awarded $705,070 to the Oregon Department of State Parks and Recreation on July 16, 2025, for park development improvements at Columbia Park in Oregon. The grant operates through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) State and Local Assistance Program, which is funded by offshore oil and gas lease revenues. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department will serve as the primary recipient and make a subaward to the Bend Park Recreation District, which will be responsible for implementing the development projects at Columbia Park. The award carries a performance period extending through May 31, 2028.

The project focuses on outdoor recreation facility development and infrastructure improvements at the publicly owned Columbia Park to enhance recreational amenities and public access for the general public. As a matching grant under the LWCF program, this funding supports Oregon's stated outdoor recreation priorities and complements local investment in park development. The subaward structure allows the state agency to facilitate federal funding while enabling the local park district to directly oversee and execute the on-the-ground improvements within the established timeline.

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 oregon parks and recreation department will make a subaward to the bend park recreation district for developments at columbia park. This project will benefit the general public.