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 $1,012,000 in federal funding on October 1, 2025, under the Outdoor Recreation Acquisition, Development and Planning program (CFDA 15.916) to support park development projects at Hueston Woods State Park in Ohio. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) serves as the primary awardee and will execute a subaward to its Division of Parks and Watercraft to deliver capital improvements and recreational facility enhancements at the state park. This project aligns with Ohio's Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan priorities and is funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) State and Local Assistance Program, which is financed by offshore oil and gas lease revenues rather than federal tax dollars.

The funded project will enhance outdoor recreation opportunities and public access to natural resources through facility development and infrastructure improvements at the state park, benefiting the general public throughout Ohio. The performance period extends through September 30, 2028, providing a three-year implementation timeline for the planned park development activities. As a matching grant program, the LWCF requires non-federal cost-sharing contributions to supplement the federal award amount.

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 ohio department of natural resources will make a subaward to the ohio department of natural resources, division of parks and watercraft for developments at hueston woods state park. This project will benefit the general public.