Parks and Recreation Grants

Outdoor Recreation Home

The Office of Outdoor Recreation (ORec) administers federal and state recreational grant programs to local communities and state parks. The Office manages the Local Parks and Recreation Fund (LPRF), the Recreational Trails Program (RTP), the Tennessee Recreation Initiative Program (TRIP), and the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). These grant programs have a match requirement and specific regulations for the applicants. If applications are selected for funding, the land must be publicly owned, and a Notice of Limitation of Usage must be placed on the land parcel's deed protecting the land in perpetuity for public recreation. In certain instances, publicly owned land that is leased from another public entity can qualify as land for some of these grant programs.

Announcements

The Office of Outdoor Recreation (ORec) is excited to announce a 2025 TRIP Grant Cycle and a 2025 Planning Grant Cycle. Please review the deadlines below for each grant offering and reach out to us with any questions.

2025 TRIP Grant Cycle

The TRIP program is a state funded program that provides grant money to cities and counties who lack professional park and recreational directors and do not provide a comprehensive recreation delivery system in their community to assist with the establishment of the first Parks and Recreation Department. TRIP grants are a three-year commitment, $25,000 grant matched equally by the communities in year one, $25,000 grant matched equally in year two, and $50,000 for year three being 100% funded by the Awarded Organization.

  • Application Workshop: March 17, 2025 at 10:00 am CST
  • Application Opens: March 17, 2025 at 12:00 pm CST
  • Application Closes: April 17, 2025 at 12:00 pm CST
  • Announce Awards by end of May 2025
  • Target start date for Contracts: July 1, 2025

2025 Planning Grant Cycle

The Planning grant program is a state funded program that provides money to cities and counties that do not currently have a Parks and Recreation Systemwide Plan and would like to complete one. This is an 80% state and 20% community matching grant. The maximum request total project amount for cities and counties applying individually is $60,000. City(ies)/county partnership or a multi-city partnership maximum request is $80,000. A multi-county/regional partnership maximum request is $90,000.

2025 Public Recreation Grants Cycle

Workshop, Deadlines and Application Date

  • December 4, 2024 - 2025 Intent to Apply/Pre-Application Workshop
  • January 14, 2025 - 2025 Intent to Apply Application Deadline
  • January 30, 2025 at 10:00 AM CST - 2025 Application Type Workshop (LPRF/RTP/LWCF) and Full Application Opens
  • February 25, 2025 - 2025 Grantee Deadline for Preliminary Review Items (Budget, Title VI, Land, etc.)
  • April 1, 2025 - 2025 Deadline for Full Application to be Submitted

2024 Public Recreation Grants

2024 Recreation Grant Funding

News Releases

Cycle Links - for information only

Grants Offered by Office of Outdoor Recreation (ORec)

The LPRF program is a state funded program that provides grants to eligible local government entities for the purchase of lands for parks, natural areas, greenways, and recreation facilities. The funds may also be used for trail development and capital projects in parks, natural areas, and greenways. At least 60 percent of the funds allocated will go to municipal governments as authorized by TCA 67-4-409. All land associated with the funded projects must be owned by a government entity. LPRF grant require an equal match. The Office of Outdoor Recreation administers the LPRF grants.

The RTP program is a federally funded, state administered grant program that provides grant funding for land acquisition for trails, non-routine trail maintenance, trail construction, trail rehabilitation and for trail head support facilities. Local, state and federal land managing agencies are eligible to apply as well as state chartered, non-profit organizations with IRS 501 (c) (3) status that have a written agreement for trail management with an agency. All grant projects MUST be on land owned by a government entity. RTP grants are distributed in the form of an 80% grant with a 20% match based on the total project amount. The Office of Outdoor Recreation administers the RTP grants in Tennessee.

The TRIP program is a state funded program that provides grant money to cities and counties who lack professional park and recreational directors and do not provide a comprehensive recreation delivery system in their community to assist with the establishment of the first Parks and Recreation Department. TRIP grants are a three-year commitment, $50,000 grant matched equally by the communities across year one and two, with $50,000 for year three being 100% funded by the Awarded Organization. The Office of Outdoor Recreation administers the TRIP grants.

The LWCF program is a federal program that provides matching grants to states to administer to state and local governments for the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation areas and facilities. All land associated with the funded projects must be owned by a government entity and an LWCF grant require an equal match. The Office of Outdoor Recreation administers the LWCF grants in Tennessee.