Land and Water Conservation Fund - Development Grants

The Land and Water Conservation Fund provides matching grants to states and local governments for the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation areas and facilities, guided by Michigan's Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). Eligible applicants include any unit of government legally constituted to provide recreation, including Native American tribes, school districts, or combinations of units. Applicants must have a DNR-approved community five-year recreation plan submitted on or before February 1 of the application year. Eligible projects include the acquisition of land and development of outdoor recreation amenities such as trails, picnic areas, beaches, campgrounds, boating access, and fishing areas. The application process consists of submitting a grant application through the online MiGrants system by April 1, followed by evaluation and scoring by Michigan Department of Natural Resources staff, DNR recommendations to the National Park Service (NPS), and final project approval by the NPS.