Local, state, and tribal governments can apply for nearly $3.2 million dollars to build and improve parks and outdoor recreation areas

Santa Fe – Today the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) State Parks Division will begin accepting applications for $3,193,100 in federal funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) through December 1, 2023.

The Department of the Interior National Park Service (NPS) created the LWCF to assist in preserving, developing, and assuring accessibility to outdoor recreation resources and to strengthen the health and vitality of citizens. The program provides matching grants to States and through States to political subdivisions of the State and other appropriate public agencies, including recognized Indian tribes, for the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation sites and facilities.

In New Mexico, the program is administered by the State Parks Division. Priority projects for the LWCF grant program include the following:

• Assistance for projects that increase access for minority, elderly, disabled and other disadvantaged or underserved populations.

• Outdoor recreation projects of Federally recognized Tribes and other Indigenous communities.

• Conservation projects that benefit fish and wildlife.

• Projects that enhance habitat connectivity to improve climate change resilience as well as outdoor recreation.

• Recreational trails, supporting existing national historic trails, national scenic trails, and national wild and scenic rivers projects.

An updated program manual, application materials, application deadline, and applicant resources will be posted to the State Parks Division LWCF section of the EMNRD website once the application period opens on October 2, 2023. Applications will be due no later than 4pm on December 1, 2023.

Interested parties must also contact Alternate New Mexico State Liaison Officer Dr. Robert Stokes at Robert.Stokes@emnrd.nm.gov   to discuss proposal requirements. Proposals will not be accepted for submission without prior consultation with the Alternate State Liaison Officer.

Offerors shall submit one electronic copy (by email or link) of the proposal at the email addresses above no later than 4 p.m. MST, December 1, 2023. The State Parks Division shall not accept proposals received after this date and shall make absolutely no exceptions for proposals not received by the appointed deadline.