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 (NPS), under the Department of the Interior, awarded $529,000 to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEA) on October 1, 2025, through the Outdoor Recreation Acquisition, Development and Planning program (CFDA 15.916). This Project Grant funding supports park development improvements at Nonotuck Park in Easthampton, Massachusetts, with completion targeted for December 31, 2028. The EOEA, serving as the primary recipient, is providing a subaward to the City of Easthampton to execute the planned park developments.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) State and Local Assistance Program, which supports this award, enables states to make matching grants for park development projects owned by states and local communities. The Nonotuck Park project will deliver enhanced outdoor recreation facilities and infrastructure improvements that benefit the general public. LWCF grants are funded through offshore oil and gas lease revenues rather than federal tax dollars, supporting the NPS's mission to expand public access to quality outdoor recreational spaces across the nation.

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 massachusetts exec. Office of energy environmental affairs will make a subaward to the city of easthampton for developments at nonotuck park. This project will benefit the general public.