National Investment In State, Local Recreation and Conservation

Public access to park and recreation resources and experiences is dependent on continuing investment by local, state and federal governments to maintain, develop and acquire appropriate sites and facilities. Collectively, these investments create a nationwide network that includes both close-to-home and remote recreation destinations.

Recognizing the continuing demand for resource conservation and recreation access, Congress created the Land and Water Conservation Fund in 1964 as the principal program to aid recreation investment at all levels of government. Today, the fund is drawing revenues from outer continental shelf oil and gas extraction activities and reinvesting them in resource conservation and recreation access. LWCF aids acquisition in federal land systems and matching grants to states and local governments to acquire, expand, enhance or restore public recreation resources. In 1978, the Congress also created the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery program to assist in restoring public park and recreation facilities in urban communities.