Outdoor Recreation and Legacy Partnership Program

The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program provides matching grants to states and local governments for the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation areas and facilities in urban areas. The primary goal is to provide new or significantly improved outdoor recreation opportunities for economically disadvantaged communities in larger urbanized areas that are underserved in terms of parks and outdoor recreation resources. In Michigan, the program is jointly administered by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the National Park Service (NPS).

Applicants must have a DNR-approved community five-year recreation plan to be eligible. Eligible entities include any unit of government, Native American tribes, or any combination of units legally constituted to provide recreation. Proposed projects must align with at least one priority in Michigan's Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP), be located in a community of 25,000 or more, and fall within a disadvantaged community or Census Tract identified through the EJScreen tool.

Eligible project types include fee simple land acquisition and development of facilities for a wide range of outdoor recreation uses. Projects must involve publicly owned land or transfer of ownership to a public entity; acquisition or use of lesser interests such as easements is not permitted. Most indoor recreation and education center buildings are ineligible, though necessary support facilities such as restrooms are allowed.

The application process requires the initial submittal of an application through the MiGrants online system. Applications are reviewed and evaluated by DNR staff for recommendation to the National Park Service. Projects undergo national panel review, and selected applicants must submit a complete federal award package (including Section 106 SHPO review, NEPA clearance, and USFWS IPaC documentation) within one year to receive final NPS award approval.