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 $1.5 million through the Outdoor Recreation Acquisition, Development and Planning program (CFDA 15.916) to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department on October 1, 2025, for outdoor recreation infrastructure development. Under this Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) State and Local Assistance Program award, TPWD serves as the prime grantee and will make a subaward to Cameron County Parks & Recreation for developments at Laureles County Park in San Benito, Texas. The project is scheduled for completion by September 30, 2028, and will provide public park improvements and recreational amenities that benefit the general public in the Cameron County region.

The funding, derived from offshore oil and gas lease revenues rather than federal tax appropriations, supports the acquisition and development of outdoor recreation facilities consistent with Texas' statewide outdoor recreation priorities. Cameron County Parks & Recreation will execute the subaward to deliver the park improvement project, continuing the regional partnership's track record of enhancing public outdoor recreational facilities and water access in south Texas through federal grant programs.

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 texas parks and wildlife department will make a subaward to the cameron county for developments at laureles county park. This project will benefit the general public.