The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Coalition and Outdoor Recreation Roundtable today lauded the announcement made by United States Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, for $279 million distributed from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to all 50 states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia for state-identified outdoor recreation and conservation projects.
“Supporting public parks, conservation of lands and waters, and expanded outdoor access makes a lot of sense – that is why we applaud today’s announcement by the Department of the Interior about the distribution of $279 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to all 50 states for state and local outdoor recreation and conservation projects,” said Lesley Kane Syznal, Chair of the LWCF Coalition. “The best part about funding these state-identified projects is that it means more trails, local parks and outdoor access for more people close to where they live and play – that is what LWCF is all about.”
“It is fitting that the Department of the Interior announced this funding for state-identified recreation and conservation projects on the first day of Great Outdoors Month® when the outdoor recreation industry, local communities, organizations and businesses are celebrating the economic and health benefits of recreating outside,” said Jessica Turner, President of Outdoor Recreation Roundtable. “ORR applauds DOI and Secretary Haaland for committing this $279 million to all 50 states, U.S. territories and D.C. so that more Americans, no matter where they live, can enjoy the outdoors and support the economy of their local communities.”
See DOI’s announcement below:
Department of the Interior Announces $279 Million to Support Public Parks, Expand Outdoor Recreation Access
Funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund helps advance America the Beautiful conservation efforts
Date: June 1, 2022
Contact: Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov
Contact: NewsMedia@nps.gov
WASHINGTON – As the nation celebrates Great Outdoors Month, the Department of the Interior today announced the distribution of $279 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to all 50 states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia for state-identified outdoor recreation and conservation projects.
“One of the best investments we can make is in stewarding the lands and waters that sustain us and the generations to come. Today we are making critical investments that will help expand access to the outdoors for communities across the country, all while creating jobs and safeguarding the environment from the effects of climate change,” said Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. “The Land and Water Conservation Fund is an integral part of advancing President Biden’s conservation vision, which recognizes the need to address the nature and climate crises, improve equitable access to the outdoors, and strengthen the economy.”
Since its inception in 1965, the LWCF has funded $5.1 billion to support 45,000 projects in every county in the country. At no cost to taxpayers, the LWCF supports increased public access to and protection for federal public lands and waters — including national parks, forests, wildlife refuges and recreation areas — and provides matching grants to state governments for the acquisition and development of public parks and other outdoor recreation sites.
The allocation for each state and territory is determined by a population-based apportionment formula set in the LWCF Act. States and territories further allocate these funds to local projects, usually through a competitive process. These investments help support the Biden-Harris administration’s America the Beautiful initiative by supporting locally led outdoor recreation and conservation projects to protect and enhance our nation’s public lands and waters.
“Access to outdoor recreation helps strengthen and enrich communities,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “The Land and Water Conservation Fund helps enable state and local governments to upgrade parks and recreation areas in their communities and create new outdoor spaces to ensure everyone has access to recreation opportunities close to home.”
Fiscal Year 2022 Total Apportionments by State/Territory
| State/Territory | Total |
| Alabama | $4,193,496 |
| Alaska | $2,337,533 |
| Arizona | $5,695,464 |
| Arkansas | $3,296,172 |
| California | $23,646,441 |
| Colorado | $4,882,901 |
| Connecticut | $3,945,555 |
| Delaware | $2,494,449 |
| Florida | $13,083,768 |
| Georgia | $7,095,724 |
| Hawaii | $2,777,858 |
| Idaho | $2,826,140 |
| Illinois | $8,977,039 |
| Indiana | $5,257,296 |
| Iowa | $3,444,784 |
| Kansas | $3,436,898 |
| Kentucky | $3,967,865 |
| Louisiana | $4,266,390 |
| Maine | $2,509,890 |
| Maryland | $5,216,915 |
| Massachusetts | $5,758,425 |
| Michigan | $6,969,264 |
| Minnesota | $4,717,825 |
| Mississippi | $3,226,022 |
| Missouri | $4,940,394 |
| Montana | $2,453,335 |
| Nebraska | $2,932,938 |
| Nevada | $3,620,386 |
| New Hampshire | $2,606,771 |
| New Jersey | $7,088,640 |
| New Mexico | $3,057,906 |
| New York | $12,711,817 |
| North Carolina | $6,705,256 |
| North Dakota | $2,327,058 |
| Ohio | $7,938,407 |
| Oklahoma | $3,814,951 |
| Oregon | $4,090,206 |
| Pennsylvania | $8,572,345 |
| Rhode Island | $2,590,120 |
| South Carolina | $4,298,760 |
| South Dakota | $2,373,384 |
| Tennessee | $5,128,022 |
| Texas | $16,369,794 |
| Utah | $3,648,864 |
| Vermont | $2,240,035 |
| Virginia | $6,164,547 |
| Washington | $5,804,681 |
| West Virginia | $2,747,181 |
| Wisconsin | $4,799,026 |
| Wyoming | $2,263,827 |
| District of Columbia | $2,370,657 |
| Puerto Rico | $3,981,045 |
| Virgin Islands | $2,019,982 |
| Guam | $2,036,685 |
| American Samoa | $2,010,605 |
| Northern Marianas | $2,010,009 |
| Total | $279,741,748 |
About the U.S. Department of the Interior. The Department of the Interior conserves and manages the Nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage for the benefit and enjoyment of the American people, provides scientific and other information about natural resources and natural hazards to address societal challenges and create opportunities for the American people, and honors the Nation’s trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and affiliated island communities to help them prosper.
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 423 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.