Please read the following before completing the registration process:

PROGRAM CRITERIA

General

      The main purpose of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Grants-in-Aid Program is to obligate 100% of the funds to high-quality land and water areas and facilities for public outdoor recreation use.  Since it is recognized that needs for outdoor areas and facilities far exceed available funds, criteria have been established as a guide for selecting projects that best satisfy the purpose of the program.  The determination of which projects submitted are to receive approval must be a judgment rendered on as fair and equitable basis as possible.

      As noted above, a proposed project must meet certain basic screening criteria to be found suitable for the LWCF program.  The following five factors are deemed essential for this purpose:

1.      Ability to assist in accomplishing the overall purpose of the LWCF Act.  The Act’s purpose is to provide a means of meeting the most urgent public outdoor recreation needs, principally by assisting the State to acquire and develop lands with high recreation potential before these lands are put to other uses or become prohibitively costly to acquire. 

2.      Ability to relate properly to the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) and local recreation master plans.  Consideration of needs and types of facilities at the local level should incorporate public participation with minority and special population representation.

3.      Ability to provide recreational uses traditionally or more appropriately developed and administered by a public agency rather than by private enterprise, based on an assessment of the local situation.  Facilities should be designed to serve the maximum number of people and a broad spectrum of age groups as well as minority and special population at a relatively small expenditure per person in order to ensure the greatest benefit for the general public.

4.      Scope of the project in relation to the normal financial ability of the sponsoring local government.  There must be no question as to the financial capability of the applicant for meeting its 50 percent matching obligation.  A project of such scope or magnitude as to be conspicuously beyond the apparent capability of the applicant will be ruled out as unsuitable, unless acceptable proof of capability can be adduced.

5.      Ability to provide for adequate operation and management of the proposed project area.  The applicant must be in a fiscally and legally responsible position in order to guarantee the area will be satisfactorily and perpetually operated and maintained.  Its continued upkeep and availability to the public for the life of the project must be ensured.

** FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE COMPLETE PROGRAM EVALUATION CRITERIA DOCUMENT.