Missouri State Parks administers three federally funded grant programs and one state funded grant program related to outdoor recreation. This page provides basic information about each program. Click on the links below each section to learn more.
Grants Currently Accepting Applications:
The 2025 grant round for the Recreational Trail Program (RTP) is now OPEN. The 2025 Open Project Selection Process and Application can be located on the RTP page. Application packets must be postmarked on or before March 3, 2025.
The Bus Grant Program grant round is currently open and accepting application for the 2024-2025 school year. Application must be submitted by email or mail by May 23, 2025, for field trips planned for July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Applications can be found on the Bus Grant page.
Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)
The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is federally funded through the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. The program is intended to create and maintain a nationwide legacy of high-quality outdoor recreation areas and facilities.
Land and Water Conservation Fund grants are available to cities, counties and school districts to be used for outdoor recreation projects. Projects require a 50% match. All funded projects must be maintained in perpetuity for public outdoor recreational purposes. Development and renovation projects must be maintained for a period of 25 years or the life of the manufactured goods.
Since 1965, Missouri has received more than $87 million for projects in every county in the state.
In Missouri, LWCF is currently open to local governments and public school for the acquisition, development and renovation of outdoor recreation sites.
OUTDOOR RECREATION LEGACY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (ORLP)
The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) is a grant program funded through the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. The ORLP Grant was created in 2014 as a complement to the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant program. The national competitive ORLP program provides matching grants to cities for park projects in underserved communities. These investments enable urban communities to create new outdoor recreation spaces, reinvigorate existing parks, and form connections between people and outdoors.
For the years of 2025 through 2029, the National Park Service (NPS) has issued a five-year recurring Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the ORLP Grant. These five years of ORLP grants will be based on funds made available by Congress in the current and future fiscal years. Unused funds from prior years, if available and subject to congressional action, may provide additional funds to the overall available amount. Each year, the total anticipated number of recommended projects nationwide is 25-40 projects. NPS will be accepting application for the ORLP grant twice a year. Please be advised that the NPS anticipates a minimum of a three-month review process before a project is recommended for funding. To remain eligible for funding, selected projects must submit a full ORLP application to the NPS for final review within one year of the project award announcement. Upon NPS’ final review and approval of the full application, the project will be awarded funds. Eligible applicants include state agencies and local governments such as cities; counties; and special-purpose districts, such as park districts. The state agency or local government must be located within a community that is determined to be underserved and that had a population of 25,000 or more in the 2020 census.
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Division of State Parks has been designated the lead funding agency in Missouri. The department is currently accepting ORLP project applications. The maximum funding amount that a project can request is $15 million, with a minimum funding request of $300,000. Project applications must be submitted to the Division of Missouri State Parks by March 25 and Aug. 19 of each year. If a project is selected for funding, the Grants Management Staff will work with the applicant to compile and complete an ORLP application. The department will submit the application on the applicant’s behalf to the National Park Service.
For submission of a project application, please review the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Application questions and application should be submitted to mspgrants@dnr.mo.gov.
For your awareness, if the application is larger than 8 MB, please send an email to mspgrants@dnr.mo.gov requesting a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) link. If the applicant has a server that is able to share files, please email mspgrants@dnr.mo.gov for awareness that a ORLP application is being submitted and who the application is coming from.
TIMELINE FOR ORLP GRANTS
| Application Due to MSP | NPS Announces Recommended Projects | Final Application Due to NPS | NPS Issues Federal Award |
| Mar 15, 2025 | Sep 1, 2025 | Jul 1, 2026 | Late 2026 to mid-2027 |
| Aug 19, 2025 | Feb 1, 2026 | Dec 1, 2026 | Early 2027 to late 2027 |
| Mar 15, 2026 | Sep 1, 2026 | Jul 1, 2027 | Late 2027 to mid-2028 |
| Aug 19, 2026 | Feb 1, 2027 | Dec 1, 2027 | Early 2028 to late 2028 |
| Mar 15, 2027 | Sep 1, 2027 | Jul 1, 2028 | Late 2028 to mid-2029 |
| Aug 19, 2027 | Feb 1, 2028 | Dec 1, 2028 | Early 2029 to late 2029 |
| Mar 15, 2028 | Sep 1, 2028 | Jul 1, 2029 | Late 2029 to mid-2030 |
| Aug 19, 2028 | Feb 1, 2029 | Dec 1, 2029 | Early 2030 to late 2030 |
| Mar 15, 2029 | Sep 1, 2029 | Jul 1, 2030 | Late 2030 to mid-2031 |
| Aug 19, 2029 | Feb 1, 2030 | Dec 1, 2030 | Early 2031 to late 2031 |
Application Submission (Documents to Include):
- National Park Service Notice of Funding Opportunity
- Instructions for Applicants
- Application Checklist
- Budget Narrative Sample
- Project Narrative Sample
- Project Abstract Summary
- Project Images Worksheet
- SF424
- SF424C
- SF424D
- SFLLL
- SF429B
- SF429 Cover Page
- Project Resolution Template
- Financial Assurance Letter Template
- Business Entity Certification
- LWCF Boundary Map Checklist
The City Parks Alliance hosted an ORLP informational webinar, which can be viewed using the following link: https://cityparksalliance.org/event/urban-park-grant-opportunity-orlp-technical-assistance-nov-2024/.
Recreational Trails Program
The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is federally funded through the Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The purpose of this program is to promote motorized and nonmotorized recreational trails.
Recreational Trails Program grants are available to local and state governments, school districts and nonprofit organizations and businesses. Eligible project categories include constructing new recreational trails, maintaining or renovating existing trails, developing or renovating trailheads or trail amenities, acquiring land for recreational trails, or purchasing or leasing trail maintenance equipment. Project sponsors must contribute a minimum match of 20% of the total cost of the project.
Missouri has received $25 million since the program began in 1993 for projects throughout the state.
MISSOURI STATE PARKS BUS GRANT PROGRAM
The Bus Grant Program assists schools and nonprofit organizations with the transportation expenses of field trips and outdoor learning opportunities at Missouri state parks and historic sites. Bus grants have been made available to Missouri schools and youth-focused nonprofit organizations throughout the state.
The Bus Grant Program grant round is currently closed. The Bus Grant Program grant round will open in early fall of this year. The new applications will be posted when the grant round opens.
CONTACT US
Missouri State Parks, Grants Management
P.O. Box 176
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176
Grants Management Section:
LWCF: 573-751-8661
RTP: 573-522-8773
ORLP: 573-751-0848
Bus: 573-526-0321