Under the Great American Outdoors Act, the Land and Water Conservation Fund will receive $900 million annually 

Ashburn, Va. (June 17, 2020) — Today, the Senate voted to pass the Great American Outdoors Act. The legislation will finally fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), the most important source of federal funding to create and develop local parks, trails, boat launches, sports fields and other recreation areas that enrich our communities. 

Kristine Stratton, president and CEO of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) issued the following statement in response to the bill’s passage:

“NRPA applauds the Senate for passing the Great American Outdoors Act. The Land and Water Conservation Fund is a program that is incredibly important for communities across America. This marks a huge win for our more than 60,000 members and advocates, who work tirelessly to serve the public with parks and trails in urban and rural communities throughout the country.”

“The Great American Outdoors Act enjoys strong bipartisan support for providing critical resources to local communities for conservation, parks and recreation. Now, we urge the House to pass the Great American Outdoors Act and ensure that LWCF becomes fully funded and therefore can effectively serve communities through parks, outdoor recreation, conservation, and health and wellness. It’s time for the House to finish the job.”

A recent NRPA poll found that 83 percent of U.S. adults agree that visiting their local parks, trails and open spaces is essential for their mental and physical well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the Great American Outdoors Act, LWCF will receive $900 million annually by way of offshore oil and gas revenues — not taxpayer dollars. Since the program was signed into law in 1965, 42,000 state and local park projects — in every state in the nation — have been funded through LWCF.

###

About the National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is the leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to building strong, vibrant, and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation. With more than 60,000 members, NRPA advances this mission by investing in and championing the work of park and recreation professionals and supporters — the catalysts for positive change in service of parks for all, climate-readiness, and overall health and well-being. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.