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 Bus Grant Program grant round is currently open and accepting applications for the 2022-2023 school year. Applications must be submitted by May 15, 2023, for field trips planned from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023. See application and instructions below.
- Round 6 for the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) is now OPEN. The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and the application from the National Park Service can be located below. Application packets must be postmarked on or before Feb. 8, 2023, for Round 6B.
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 was created in 2014 as a complement to the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant program. It seeks to provide new or significantly improve recreation opportunities in economically-disadvantaged communities.
For 2022, a total of $192 million nationwide are available for outdoor recreation projects (a combination of grant funds appropriated by Congress in FY22 and unused fund from prior years). Funds will be awarded in two rounds, Rounds 6A and 6B. Eligible applicants include other state agencies and local governments such as cities, counties, and special purpose districts, such as park districts, within or abutting, a city with a population of at least 30,000 people.
The project request amount is a maximum of $10 million and a minimum of $300,000. The deadline to submit a project application for Round 6B is Feb. 8, 2023. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has been designated the lead agency in Missouri. We are currently accepting project applications. If your project is selected, the Grants Management Section of Missouri State Parks will work with you to submit an application on your behalf to the National Park Service. To submit a project application please review the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and submit the application information required in Section D on pages 8-13 by mail to:
Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Division of State Parks
Grants Management Section
Attn: ORLP Planner
P.O. Box 176
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176
Or
1659 E. Elm St.
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Application Package:
2022 National Park Service Notice of Funding Opportunity
Instructions for Applicants
Application Checklist
Application and Revision (A&R) Form
Budget Narrative Sample
Project Narrative Sample
Project Abstract Summary
Description and Notification Form (DNF)
Project Images Worksheet
SF424C
SF424D
SFLLL
SF429 Cover Page
SF429B
Project Resolution Template
Financial Assurance Letter Template
MO State E-Verify
Software is required to view some of the PDFs in the list above. You may need to download the documents to your computer before you can view them.
City Parks Alliance will be hosting an ORLP Technical Assistance webinar at 2 p.m. on Sept. 13, 2022. To register for the workshop, visit the event listing on the City Parks Alliance website. To see a complete list of upcoming City Parks Alliance webinars, click here.
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
Bus grants assist 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 open and accepting applications for the 2022-2023 school year. These are noncompetitive grants that are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to qualified applicants. Applications must be submitted by email or mail by May 15, 2023, for field trips planned for the 2022-2023 school year (July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023).
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