Land and Water Conservation Fund
Land and Water Conservation Fund supports Vermont governmental entities in acquiring parkland and building or renovating public outdoor recreation facilities to provide lasting recreation opportunities.
Funder: Vermont Agency of Natural Resources
Due Dates: November 20, 2026, 11:59 PM ET (Pre-application) | January 31, 2027 (Invited full application)
Funding Amounts: Recommended requests: $25,000–$1,000,000; minimum 50% match; anticipated implementation June 1, 2028–December 31, 2030
Summary: Supports Vermont governmental applicants in acquiring parkland and developing or renovating public outdoor recreation facilities.
Key Information: Funded recreation areas must remain maintained and open for public outdoor recreation in perpetuity.
Description
The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) supports public outdoor recreation across Vermont through land acquisition, new recreation facilities, and renovation of existing facilities. National Park Service funding is administered by Vermont’s Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation (FPR). Projects may acquire land for new parks or expand existing recreation areas, develop facilities on existing parkland, or combine acquisition and development.
The program seeks to create and maintain lasting, high-quality recreation opportunities while protecting open spaces, forests, wilderness, and environmentally sensitive areas. Applications must meet an identified need in Vermont’s Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) and address local and regional needs. Funded areas carry a permanent public recreation commitment, and sponsors must develop, operate, and maintain facilities to acceptable National Park Service standards.
