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 Michigan Department of Natural Resources received a $1.0 million Project Grant from the Department of the Interior's National Park Service under the Outdoor Recreation Acquisition, Development and Planning program (CFDA 15.916) on July 15, 2025, with a completion date of September 30, 2028. This award is funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which is supported by offshore oil and gas lease revenue rather than federal tax dollars. The DNR will serve as the pass-through entity for a subaward to the City of Northville, with funds directed toward development and improvement projects at Ford Field Park in Northville, Michigan.

The project will deliver enhanced outdoor recreation infrastructure and facilities at Ford Field Park, benefiting the general public through park development improvements. The subaward to the City of Northville, issued December 12, 2025, constitutes a matching grant arrangement wherein local public investment is leveraged alongside federal LWCF funding to advance the community's outdoor recreation priorities as identified in Michigan's Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). This project exemplifies the LWCF program's mission to support states and local governments in acquiring and developing public recreational areas that serve community needs and improve public access to outdoor resources.

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 michigan department of natural resources will make a subaward to the city of northville for developments at ford field park. This project will benefit the general public.