Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
06/30/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/30/2026 06:27
Virginia opens $11 million Land and Water Conservation Fund grant round
Media inquiries: Please contact Dave Neudeck, [email protected], 804-786-5053.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: June 30, 2026
Contact: Emi Endo, Senior Public Relations and Marketing Specialist, 804-786-8442, [email protected]
Virginia opens $11 million Land and Water Conservation Fund grant round
(Editors: Follow this link to download an image. Photo caption: Virginia Outdoors Plan map showing Land and Water Conservation Projects in Virginia.][alt:Map of Virginia divided into four regions with yellow points marking locations.)
RICHMOND, Va. - The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation is now accepting grant applications for parks and outdoor recreation projects through the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
The federal Land and Water Conservation Fund State and Local Assistance Program, or LWCF, is a 50-50% matching reimbursement program for acquiring, developing and rehabilitating park areas. A total of $11 million is available.
The minimum grant award will be $150,000 with a total project cost of $300,000. The maximum grant award amount is $2.5 million with a maximum total project cost of $5 million.
Since 1965, nearly $135 million has been invested in more than 430 projects in Virginia, such as new public parks and improved amenities. All projects must be maintained and kept open as public outdoor recreation areas in perpetuity.
According to the Virginia Outdoors Survey, most Virginians (82%) place a high value on access to outdoor recreation. The most needed outdoor recreation opportunities are natural areas, trails and parks.
Eligible applicants include state agencies, cities, counties, park authorities and federally or state-recognized Indian tribes. Recipients must be able to fund 100% of their project while seeking periodic reimbursements.
Potential applicants can learn more about this funding opportunity and how to navigate the requirements by viewing the Virginia Outdoors Plan. Visit Section 4, which includes an interactive map of recreation resources supported through LWCF across Virginia, at: https://vop-vdcr.hub.arcgis.com/pages/grants-page.
A virtual workshop for potential applicants is planned for Tuesday, July 14 from 2-3:30 p.m. Information about the workshop, an updated program manual, application materials and applicant resources is at https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/recreational-planning/lwcf.
The deadline for submitting applications is Aug. 27 by 4 p.m. Applications must be emailed to [email protected].
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About Planning and Recreation ResourcesThe Division of Planning and Recreation Resources at the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation provides comprehensive outdoor recreation planning and builds facilities within state parks. The division manages grant programs and provides technical expertise related to open space use and access, such as statewide trails, scenic rivers and its statewide comprehensive outdoor recreation plan.
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Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation published this content on June 30, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 30, 2026 at 12:27 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]