Natasha Blakely, natasha.blakely@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Department of the Interior announced today $46.7 million in grants to communities through the National Park Service’s Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program.
ORLP was started in 2014 to help economically disadvantaged communities with little to no access to public outdoor recreation spaces by funding the creation or improvement of outdoor recreation amenities. It has funded dozens of projects over the past 10 years, including the Belle Isle Park Athletic Complex in Detroit, Michigan, Three Mile Creek Greenway Project in Mobile, Alabama, and Buchanan Street Mall in San Francisco, California. This is the second round of ORLP grants this year after $58.3 million across 14 projects was announced in March.
The grants will be distributed to 10 projects in 8 states, including:
- Cleveland, Ohio
- The city will receive $461,332 to create two park areas, one with a playground, splash pad, game tables, and more. The other will have picnic tables and an open-use playfield.
- Des Moines, Iowa
- The city will receive $5,291,000 to add a playground, splash pad, open-air shelters, stormwater management, and more to Birdland Park and Marina.
- Houston, Texas
- The city will receive $10,000,000 to improve MacGregor Park, including updating existing infrastructure and sports amenities.
- New Brunswick, New Jersey
- The city will receive $2,041,770 to create a new park with a dog park, play areas, and shade trees.
- Porterville, California
- The city will receive $2,500,000 to create a new park on undeveloped land, including native drought-tolerant plants, sport courts, and solar lighting.
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- The city will receive $8,679,930 to develop and restore Smoky Hollow Park, including erosion control, park amenities, native meadows, and more.
In response, Jackie Ostfeld, Campaign Director of Sierra Club’s Outdoors for All, released the following statement:
“The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program has consistently remained one of the Interior Department’s most impactful programs investing in urban and disadvantaged communities. Over the past 10 years it has continued to provide grant funding to communities across the nation, bolstering existing parks and recreation opportunities, creating new ones for millions of people to enjoy. With 84% of Americans living in urban areas, it is critical that we not only create new opportunities for the population to spend beneficial time outdoors, but work to preserve and maintain the existing beloved community parks and spaces.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.