Land and Water Conservation Fund
Forecasted
Land and Water Conservation Fund supports Colorado public agencies in acquiring land, developing parks, and protecting open spaces to provide public outdoor recreation in perpetuity.
Funder: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Due Dates: Due Dates (Anticipated): Not yet announced
Funding Amounts: $96 million distributed in Colorado across 1,046 grants since 1965 (historical total)
Summary: Supports Colorado public agencies in acquiring land, developing parks, and protecting open spaces for public outdoor recreation.
Key Information: Funded sites must remain dedicated to public outdoor recreation in perpetuity and are subject to ongoing stewardship.
Description
The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is a federal grant program administered in Colorado by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) on behalf of the National Park Service. Since 1965, it has helped public agencies acquire land, build local parks, and protect open spaces across Colorado. Its focus is public outdoor recreation, serving communities from regional towns to urban centers.
Supported work includes new recreation facilities and improvements to existing parks, trails, and community amenities. Recent Colorado projects illustrate this range: playgrounds, sports courts, climbing boulders, multi-purpose fields, bike pump tracks, picnic shelters, off-leash dog parks, and lake trail improvements.
