#Politics @Interior 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
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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About the U.S. Department of the Interior
The Department of the Interior (DOI) 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.
