Accepting applications, no posted deadlineStrong fit

Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP)

National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior (nominated through NC State Parks) Federal, through the state

Checked Oct 23, 2026 on ncparks.gov

Award: $300,000 to $15 million
Next date: No posted deadline
Who can apply: Local governments
Where: Qualifying urban areas of 25,000 or more people, and Tribal areas

A nationally competitive federal grant from the National Park Service that pays to create new outdoor recreation spaces and renovate existing parks in qualifying urban communities. North Carolina local governments in urban areas of 25,000 or more people apply through NC State Parks, which nominates projects. Best suited to large park projects where a playground is one part of the plan.

Could a playground win this?

Strong fit Medium confidence

Playgrounds are not named, but the program pays to build new or renovate existing public outdoor recreation facilities and parks. Awards start at $300,000 and need a dollar-for-dollar match, so a playground would usually be one part of a larger park project led by a local government in a qualifying urban area.

The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) is a nationally competitive grant program that provides matching grants to create outdoor recreation spaces and reinvigorate existing parks in qualifying urban communities.

To acquire land and water for parks and other outdoor recreation purposes in qualifying areas, and develop new or renovate existing outdoor recreation facilities that provide outdoor recreation opportunities to the public in qualifying areas.

Based on the funder's words, from ncparks.gov (opens in a new tab). This is our read, not the funder's.

About the match

Applicants must match the grant dollar for dollar. The page does not say whether volunteer labor or donated materials count, or when the match is due.

For the full $15,000,000 grant, you would provide $15,000,000 of your own.

How to apply

Check whether your jurisdiction and project are in a qualifying area using the link on the NC State Parks page.
Contact your Recreation Resources Service regional consultant or the NC State Parks Grants and Outreach Team.
Prepare a park project with a dollar-for-dollar match and respond to the state's solicitation for nomination.

See this grant on ncparks.gov (opens in a new tab)

All the details

Match: Dollar for dollar
Deadline: None posted. The funder's page lists no dates and does not say the program is closed.
Cycle: The page does not list current opening or deadline dates. Projects are nominated by the state after a solicitation.
Who can apply, in full: Projects in an urban area of 25,000 or more people (or adjacent urban areas totaling 25,000 or more), or in an area administered by a federally recognized Indian Tribe or an Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian community organization.
What it funds: Buying land and water for parks, and building new or renovating existing public outdoor recreation facilities in qualifying areas.
Area: Projects must be in an urban area of 25,000 or more people, or in an area administered by a federally recognized Tribe or an Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian community organization.
Contact: NC State Parks Grants and Outreach Team; Recreation Resources Service regional consultants
Funder: National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior (nominated through NC State Parks) (Federal, through the state)
Source we checked: https://www.ncparks.gov/recreation/grants-and-outreach/outdoor-recreation-legacy-partnership-program (opens in a new tab)
Date last checked: Fri, Oct 23, 2026

We summarize public information. Always confirm details with the funder before applying.