Land and Water Conservation Fund grants awarded to 7 New Hampshire communities

The United States Department of the Interior-National Park Service (NPS), through the State of New Hampshire Department of Natural and Cultural Resources-Division of Parks and Recreation, has recently approved $1.6 million Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) local assistance grants to the communities of Keene, Enfield, Lancaster, Concord, Franklin, Barnstead and Littleton. With matching contributions from these municipalities, the grants will support projects for the development of public recreation lands including new and replacement playgrounds, multi-use trails and parking, whitewater structures and bathrooms support facilities.

“The increased demand for outdoor recreation and the number of grant applications received over the past year shows how important these LWCF-funded projects are to improve outdoor recreation opportunities in our NH communities” Said Phil Bryce, Director of the NH Division of Parks and Recreation. “The New Hampshire Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, is proud to support and manage this program so local communities are able to make these investments.”

The LWCF State and Local Assistance Program is administered in NH by the Division of Parks and Recreation on behalf of the National Parks Service, providing 50/50 matching grants to public outdoor recreation projects. Since 1965, more than $88 million ($44 million in grant funds) has been invested in public outdoor recreation projects in NH State lands and in more than 180 counties, cities, towns, and other local government properties.

With program funding appropriated by the US Congress to the States, LWCF State and Local Assistance Grants are available for eligible public recreation land acquisition and/or development projects by the States or local governments. Program information and a list of current open projects for NH can be found at www.nhstateparks.org/about-us/community-recreation/land-water-conservation-fund-grant.

The Division of Parks and Recreation is one of five divisions of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. NH State Parks and Recreation is comprised of the Bureau of Parks Operations, the Bureau of Historic Sites, the Bureau of Trails, the Bureau of Community Recreation, and Cannon Mountain Ski Area. The Division manages 93 properties, including state parks, beaches, campgrounds, historic sites, trails, waysides, and natural areas. To learn more, visit www.nhstateparks.org, follow NH State Parks on Facebook and Twitter, or call 603/271-3556.