Grant Programs
The Nevada Division of State Parks administers two federally-funded grant programs: Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Recreational Trails Program.
Land and Water Conservation Fund
This federal program provides matching grants to states, as well as through states to their local governments for the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation areas and facilities. Land and Water Conservation Fund assistance is provided on a 50/50 matching basis to individual projects. The Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 was enacted “…to assist in preserving, developing and assuring accessibility to all citizens of the United States of America of present and future generations… such quality and quantity of outdoor recreation resources as may be available and are necessary and desirable for individual active participation….”
The Recreational Trails Program is a Federal Highway Administration assistance program to help states provide and maintain recreational trails for both motorized and non-motorized recreational trail use. The program provides funding for all types of recreational trail uses, such as pedestrian uses (hiking, running, wheelchair use), bicycling, in-line skating, equestrian use, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, off-highway vehicle riding, or use of other off-road motorized vehicles. Since 1993 the Recreational Trails Program has funded hiking and equestrian trails, mountain bike trails, trail brochures, trailheads, interpretive signage, OHV trails, urban pedestrian/bicycle paths and trail education. Nevada’s Recreational Trails Program is an 80/20 matching program for non-motorized projects, and a 95/5 matching program for motorized and education projects.
