ClosedStrong fit
Land and Water Conservation Fund, local grants
NC Division of Parks and Recreation with the National Park Service Federal, through the state
Checked on ncparks.gov
This round has closed. The page stays up so you can plan for the next one, and it updates when the funder posts new dates.
- Award
- Up to $750,000 per application
- Next date
- Next date not posted
- Who can apply
- Local governments
- Where
- Statewide, NC
Federal park money that North Carolina passes to local governments. It pays up to half the cost of public outdoor recreation, and the 2026 application guide covers playground equipment and surfacing directly. Land or facilities funded must stay in public outdoor recreation use forever.
Could a playground win this?
Strong fit Medium confidence
Playgrounds are not named, but the grant pays for developing and renovating outdoor public recreation facilities on park land the local government owns. Only counties, municipalities and tribes can apply, and the site must stay in public outdoor recreation use in perpetuity.
LWCF grants can be used for acquisition, development, renovation, and combination projects for outdoor public recreation.
An applicant must own the park property.
About the match
The applicant must match the grant at least dollar for dollar (a minimum 50 percent match), and a larger match is needed for projects with total costs above $1.5 million. The page does not say whether in-kind or volunteer contributions count.
For the full $750,000 grant, you would provide $750,000 of your own.
How to apply
- Read the 2026 LWCF application guide on the funder page.
- Contact your RRS regional consultant about your project and site.
- Submit a complete application by 5:00 pm on Nov 2, 2026. Incomplete applications are not reviewed.
We summarize public information. Always confirm details with the funder before applying.