Deb Haaland Secretary at U.S. Department of Interior | Official website
PHOENIX — Acting Deputy Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis announced the distribution of $325 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Stateside Assistance Program to all 50 states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia. This marks the largest annual distribution from the program since 1979. Investments from the LWCF support the Biden-Harris administration’s America the Beautiful initiative by funding locally led outdoor recreation and conservation projects.
Acting Deputy Secretary Daniel-Davis celebrated Arizona’s $6.7 million award in Avondale alongside local leaders and partners. She visited Sundance Park in Buckeye to review a $3 million LCWF project funded in 2021 and completed in 2023, which included new construction of lighted multi-use fields, ramadas, a maintenance yard, and other improvements. She also toured Donnie Hale Park, which received $557,000 in LWCF funding in 2021 for renovations including baseball fields, basketball courts, playgrounds, ramadas, walkways, lighting, fencing, and other amenities.
“The Biden-Harris administration is deeply committed to ensuring that all Americans, no matter where they live or how much money they earn, can enjoy the outdoors,” said Acting Deputy Secretary Daniel-Davis. “The Land and Water Conservation Fund is helping us deliver on that commitment through locally-led and community-driven projects that are creating greener neighborhoods, more recreational opportunities and improved access to nature.”
The LWCF was established by Congress in 1964 to safeguard natural areas, water resources and cultural heritage while providing recreation opportunities for all Americans. The fund helps strengthen communities by preserving history and protecting lands and waters. Since its inception in 1965, the LWCF State and Local Assistance Program has funded over 46,000 projects nationwide.
In 2020, Congress permanently funded the LWCF at $900 million per year with bipartisan support through the Great American Outdoors Act.
Administered by the National Park Service (NPS), at no cost to taxpayers, the LWCF supports increased public access to federal public lands such as national parks and forests while providing matching grants to Tribal, state and local governments for land acquisition and development for public parks.
“Communities in every corner of the nation have benefited from the Land and Water Conservation Fund’s incredible investments,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “With increased investment into locally led efforts, the Land and Water Conservation Fund continues to represent the best of America while putting communities and equity first.”
Allocations within the LWCF Stateside Assistance Program are determined through a formula set in law based largely on population. States further allocate these funds to local projects with guidance from NPS encouraging collaboration with Tribes and underserved communities during their planning processes.
Fiscal Year 2024 Total Apportionments by State/Territory:
- Alabama: $4,836,940
- Alaska: $2,707,692
- Arizona: $6,721,366
- Arkansas: $3,804481
- California: $27358194
- Colorado: $5805360
- Connecticut: $4500235
- Delaware: $2906499
- Florida: $15748651
- Georgia: $8319854
- Hawaii: $3199750
- Idaho: $3319060
- Illinois: $10094573
- Indiana: $6049934
- Iowa: $3981511
- Kansas: $3947712
...
Total Allocation Amounts to All States/Territories Sum Up To $325 Million
