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

06/01/2022
Last edited 06/01/2022

Date: Wednesday, June 1, 2022
Contact: Interior_Press@ios.doi.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  

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