Our Vermont Woods

Michael Snyder, Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR), announced today that funds are available for outdoor recreation grants via the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).
These funds will be available to municipalities around the state to protect land and develop or enhance infrastructure dedicated to outdoor recreation. Since 1964, the LWCF program has granted more than $50 million to communities and protected more than 27,000 acres of land for outdoor recreation in Vermont.

“Outdoor recreation is a crucial component of Vermont’s economy and quality of life,” said Commissioner Snyder. “We are pleased to offer this opportunity to communities across the state to preserve and improve their recreation assets.”

“The impact of this program in Vermont has been huge,” says Jessica Savage, Recreation Program Manager and LWCF Grant Administrator with FPR. “Hundreds of parks and facilities have been acquired and improved with LWCF funds over the past fifty years, likely in your community or a neighboring community. We know that this grant round will bring even more excellent projects to add to that list.”

LWCF is a program of the National Park Service and provides up to half the funding for a project through reimbursement-based grants. Cities, towns, villages, school districts, fire districts and inter-municipal districts are eligible applicants. Large-scale projects (over $100,000) are the best fit for this program.  Projects can range from the acquisition of land for public recreation to the development of sports playfields, hiking, biking and walking trails, camping, picnic facilities, swimming areas, and playground areas. From school playground equipment in Barnet, to improvements at the public pool in Lyndonville, to new trails at Little River State Park, this program has created places that bring people together doing fun, healthy, and community-building activities outdoors.

Pre-applications are due on October 15th and will be used to determine eligibility and to schedule required site visits. Full applications are due on December 17, 2018.

For more information and to download the pre-application and the full application, please visit http://fpr.vermont.gov/recreation/grants/lwcf. Questions can be directed to Becca Washburn at becca.washburn@vermont.gov or 802.793.3432.