Date and time: Wednesday, August 7, 2024
Contact: Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov
WASHINGTON — The Department of the Interior today announced $46.7 million in funding through the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program to redevelop or create 10 local parks in Tucson, Arizona. Porterville, California. Des Moines, Iowa. Kansas City, Missouri. New Brunswick, New Jersey, and Garner and Raleigh, North Carolina. Cleveland, Ohio. and Houston, Texas.
Today’s announcement brings the total national investment in ORLP grants to nearly $127 million in 2024. The ministry previously announced investments of $21.9 million in March 2024 and $58.3 million in November 2023.
Secretary Deb Haaland said, “The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring that all Americans, regardless of their zip code or background, have access to nature and its benefits.” “Through the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program, the Department of the Interior is investing millions of dollars in locally-led projects that build new urban parks and rehabilitate existing outdoor spaces, based on the needs and visions of local communities. ”
The announcement comes after a national tour by Assistant Secretary of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Shannon Estenos, who spoke to local residents about the need to connect outdoor access and encourage states to participate in the ORLP program. We heard directly from residents.
Established in 2014 and funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), the ORLP program helps urban communities create new outdoor recreation spaces, revitalize existing parks, and economically underserved parks. It allows people to form connections with the outdoors in communities where they don’t have much. The program is a locally-led, voluntary conservation and restoration effort aimed at addressing the nature and climate crisis, improving equitable access to the outdoors, and strengthening the economy. will help promote America’s “America the Beautiful” initiative. Providing safe outdoor space to communities that lack parks is one of six areas of focus.
Since its creation in 1965, the LWCF State and Local Assistance Program has funded more than 46,000 projects in every county in the country. In 2020, Congress provided $900 million in permanent annual funding to LWCF with broad bipartisan support through the Great American Outdoors Act, which was signed into law four years ago this week. LWCF supports increased public access to and protection of federal public lands and waters, including national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and recreation areas, and provides support for the acquisition and development of public parks and other outdoor recreation areas. We provide matching grants to state governments.
Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Round 6c Selected Projects
arizona
City of Tucson – $2,995,448
Jacobs Park Revitalization and Expansion
The Jacobs Park project will redevelop the park and construct a softball complex, a new skate park, two additional soccer fields built to tournament standards, futsal courts and pickleball courts. It will also expand the dog park, eliminate the parking lot, create a family area with a playground, picnic and grilling areas, and add new restroom and concession buildings. In addition to these new recreational facilities, the project will address stormwater infrastructure and plant 310 new trees.
California
City of Porterville – $2,500,000
Sante Fe Sports Complex
The project will feature a new construction site on undeveloped city-owned land consisting of 585 drought-tolerant native plants, futsal, pickleball and multi-sport courts, an amphitheater, observation deck, restrooms and solar power facilities. Build a park.
iowa
City of Des Moines – $5,291,000
Birdland Park and Marina Master Plan Improvement Phase 1
The existing 53-acre park has been improved with a playground, splash pad, skating ribbon, water trail, outdoor shelter with river views, and a new deck. It will also add a park building with restrooms, rentals and concessions, improved parking, stormwater management controls, landscaping, fishing areas, a motorized boat ramp, piers and docks, lighting, benches and bike racks.
missouri
Kansas City – $4,250,000
Swope Park Improvements
This project will significantly renovate and improve the northwest area of Swope Park, covering approximately 215 acres of the park’s total 1,805 acres. Improvements include renovations to neighborhood walkways, a 10,000-square-foot destination playground, five shelters and a bandstand. The project will also add pedestrian and bicycle safety measures along the access road.
new jersey
New Brunswick – $2,041,770
Neilson Street Park Project
The project will create a 1.19-acre passive park that will incorporate a dog park, amphitheater seating, playgrounds, shade trees, seating, and sculptures.
north carolina
Town of Garner – $8,500,000
Yeargan Park Development Phase 1
The project supports the first phase of the 64-acre Yeargan Park Plan, which includes four multi-purpose sports fields, trails connecting the park to historic Downtown Garner, playgrounds, a large picnic shelter, restrooms, paved parking, public works, Provide rainwater harvesting facilities.
City of Raleigh – $8,679,930
Implementation of Smokey Hollow Park
The project includes the development of a natural and passive park, restoration of the Pigeon House Branch, and the first phase of development of the Pigeon House Greenway Trail. Grants support erosion control, river restoration, and wetland construction. We also construct stormwater facilities, retaining walls, stream crossings, park facilities, public plazas, sidewalks, grounds features, public art, and landscaping such as native grasslands, forests, natural habitats and buffer plantings, ornamental landscape areas and lawns. We also support
ohio
Cleveland Metroparks – $2,000,000
forest hill park restoration
The project will restore park infrastructure at Forest Hill Park, an approximately 249-acre city park, as well as repair and replace baseball dugouts and bleachers, and add press boxes, scoreboards, lighting and fencing.
City of Cleveland – $461,332
Clark Avenue Park Project
The project will create two distinctive park areas on approximately four acres. The main space includes a play area, swing set, splash pad, decorative fence, charging station, benches, game table, and a plaza with a seating wall. Secondary park space includes a plaza with picnic tables and a free-use playground.
texas
Houston Parks and Recreation Department – $10,000,000
McGregor Park maintenance project
The proposed project would improve existing infrastructure, including a tennis center, adult baseball field, youth multipurpose field, concessions, restrooms, amphitheater, community plaza, and event lawn.
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