Grant Opportunities
Missouri State Parks administers three federally funded grant programs and one state-funded grant program related to outdoor recreation. It also administers one federally funded grant program related to historic preservation. This page provides basic information about each program.
Grants Currently Accepting Applications:
The 2026 grant round for the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) is now OPEN. The National Park Service Notice of Funding Opportunity and supporting documents are located in the ORLP section of this page. Application packets must be submitted by Aug. 3, 2026, at 5 p.m.
Outdoor Recreation Grants
Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)
The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is federally funded through the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. The program is intended to create and maintain a nationwide legacy of high-quality outdoor recreation areas and facilities.
Land and Water Conservation Fund grants are available to cities, counties and school districts to be used for outdoor recreation projects. Projects require a 50% match. All funded projects must be maintained in perpetuity for public outdoor recreational purposes. Development and renovation projects must be maintained for a period of 25 years or the life of the manufactured goods.
Since 1965, Missouri has received more than $87 million for projects in every county in the state.
In Missouri, LWCF is currently available to local governments and public schools for the acquisition, development and renovation of outdoor recreation sites.
Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP)
The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) is a grant program funded through the National Park Service, a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Interior. The ORLP grant was created in 2014 as a complement to the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant program. The nationally competitive ORLP program provides matching grant funding to enhance recreation opportunities in qualifying areas. These investments enable urban communities to create new outdoor recreation spaces, reinvigorate existing parks, and form connections between people and the outdoors.
For the years of 2026 through 2030, the National Park Service (NPS) has issued a five-year recurring Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the ORLP grant. These five years of ORLP grants will be based on funds made available by Congress in the current and future fiscal years. Unused funds from prior years, if available and subject to congressional action, may provide additional funds to the overall amount available. Each year, the total anticipated number of recommended projects nationwide is 25-40. NPS will be accepting applications for the ORLP grant once a year. NPS anticipates announcing selections within six months after the application deadline, around May 1 each year.
Funding Eligibility:
To remain eligible for funding, selected projects must submit a full ORLP application to NPS for final review within one year of the project award announcement. Upon NPS’ final review and approval of the full application, the project will be awarded funds.
Eligible Applicants Include:
- State agencies within a qualifying area*
- Local governments within a qualifying area*
- Examples of local governments include cities, counties, park districts and other special-purpose districts.
- Areas administered by a federally recognized Indian Tribe or an Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian community organization
*A qualifying area is defined as:
- An urban area that has a population of 25,000 or more, or
- Two or more adjacent urban areas with a combined population of 25,000 or more
2026 ORLP Grant Round:
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of State Parks has been designated the lead funding agency in Missouri. The department is currently accepting ORLP project applications. The maximum funding amount that a project can request is $15 million. The minimum funding request is $300,000.
Project applications for the 2026 round must be submitted to the Division of Missouri State Parks by Aug. 3, 2026. If a project is selected for funding, the Grants Management staff will work with the applicant to compile and complete an ORLP application. The department will submit the application to the National Park Service on the applicant’s behalf. All prospective applicants should review the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) before submitting their application. The NOFO is included in the list of documents in the following section.
Applications and questions should be submitted to mspgrants@dnr.mo.gov. If the application is larger than 8 megabytes, please send an email to mspgrants@dnr.mo.gov requesting an FTP link. If the applicant has a server that is able to share files, please email mspgrants@dnr.mo.gov for awareness that an ORLP application is being submitted and who the application is coming from.
Documents for Applicants:
Getting Started:
Application Attachments (Documents to Include with Your Application Submission):
- Application Checklist
- Budget Narrative Template
- Project Narrative Template
- Project Abstract Summary
- Project Images Worksheet
- SF424
- SF424C
- SF424D
- SFLLL
- Project Resolution Template
- Financial Assurance Letter Template
- Business Entity Certification
- LWCF Boundary Map Checklist
- LWCF Boundary Map Template
Technical Assistance and Webinars:
The Trust for Public Land is working in partnership with the National Park Service to launch a new, no-cost ORLP technical assistance program. To learn more about their resources or register for their ORLP webinar series, please visit their website.
Recreational Trails Program
The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is federally funded through the Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The purpose of this program is to promote motorized and nonmotorized recreational trails.
Recreational Trails Program grants are available to local and state governments, school districts and nonprofit organizations and businesses. Eligible project categories include constructing new recreational trails, maintaining or renovating existing trails, developing or renovating trailheads or trail amenities, acquiring land for recreational trails, or purchasing or leasing trail maintenance equipment. Project sponsors must contribute a minimum match of 20% of the total cost of the project.
Missouri has received $25 million since the program began in 1993 for projects throughout the state.
Missouri State Parks Bus Grant Program
The Bus Grant Program assists schools and nonprofit organizations with the transportation expenses of field trips and outdoor learning opportunities at Missouri state parks and historic sites. Bus grants have been made available to Missouri schools and youth-focused nonprofit organizations throughout the state.
Historic Preservation Fund Grant Program
The Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) Grant program is federally funded through the National Park Service. It finances local activities for the preservation of historic buildings and archaeological sites.
HPF grants are available to local governments and non-profits with a preservation mission. A majority of our grant funds are reserved for Certified Local Governments in good standing. Applicants must contribute a minimum match of 40% of the total project cost. Eligible projects include:
- Construction projects for the purpose of protecting, rehabilitating, or restoring historic properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- Pre-construction projects to plan care for historic properties
- Nominating properties to the National Register of Historic Places
- Architectural and Archaeological surveys to determine National Register eligibility
- Training for historic preservation commissioners
- Internships on preservation projects
- Local preservation planning activities such as preservation plans, historic contexts, and design guidelines
CONTACT Information
Historic Preservation Fund Grants
573-751-7958
Outdoor Recreation Grants
Missouri State Parks, Grants Management
P.O. Box 176
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176
Grants Management Section:
LWCF: 573-751-8661
RTP: 573-522-8773
ORLP: 573-751-0848
Bus: 573-526-0321