Land and Water Conservation Fund

Eligible applicants include villages, cities, public power districts, and natural resource districts (political subdivisions except for schools). Examples of eligible projects include: playgrounds, picnic facilities, trails, ballfields, soccer fields, shelter houses, tennis courts, multi-purpose courts and modest related support facilities. Acquisition of land for a new park of for land that is adjacent to an existing park is eligible for Fund assistance. Land to be donated by a private individual or a corporation after federal project approval is also eligible for Fund assistance. Professional consultant services to prepare the application or provide cost estimates are eligible for Fund assistance.

Potential sponsors and applicants should review the National Park Service’s Land and Water Conservation Funds State Assistance Program – Federal Financial Assistance Manual for more details related to project eligibility and compliance.

Please note the floor and ceiling for reimbursement are:

• $75,000, which means your project can be $150,000 or more
• $600,000, which means your project can be $1.2 million or more

The governing board of a political subdivision will be required to pass a resolution at a public meeting to participate in the LWCF program, complete an application form and supply all requested supplemental information as required by staff.

Call 402-471-5424 with questions about the program.

Fund assistance is restricted to public outdoor recreation facilities located on land owned or controlled by the project sponsor.

Section 6(f)(3) of the Act requires that all Fund-assisted property be used and retained for public outdoor recreation uses in perpetuity. Project sponsor will be required to replace a Fund-assisted property that is converted to other than public park uses, either during or after project completion.

All project elements must meet applicable building codes and potential sponsor should engage, if needed, professional assistance during the application stage to ensure codes are met and cost estimates are current. Professional assistance is also recommended in preparing both the application and the required supporting documents.

Project sponsors are required to have their 50% share of the total project costs on hand since sponsors must initially pay for the facilities before requesting reimbursement from the federal government. It is highly recommended to have all funds on hand to expedite the project.

The sponsor’s 50% share may derive from cash, private donations, taxes, bequests or from other political subdivisions.

New and future utility service lines for a facility must be placed underground, and proposed facilities may not be located under any existing powerlines.

Except for consultant fees, eligible project costs must be incurred following federal project approval. Consultant feed incurred prior to federal approval may be reimbursed at a future time.

All project sponsors must display a permanent recognition sign on the project site. The Commission will provide you with a sample sign.

The governing body of a political subdivision must assure the state and federal governments that it will commit both the financial resources to complete the project and operate and maintain the funded site in a setting that is both attractive and safe for public use.

The project sponsor will assure that all programs and facilities, where it is possible, are accessible to, and usable by, the disabled. The sponsor is also expected to keep facilities open for public use at reasonable times of the year.

The Nebraska Unicameral, per statute 37-427, assented to the provisions of the LWCF Act to assist the state and political subdivisions. The State Statute also designates the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and staff to perform all such acts on behalf of the State of Nebraska to carry out the purpose and objectives of the Act. The law also stipulates that 60% of Nebraska’s apportionment be made available to political subdivisions, while the Commission is authorized to use the remaining 40% on agency-sponsored projects. The Commission meets annually to consider staff recommendations for allocating the federal funds to various projects across the state.