Bismarck, ND – North Dakota Parks and Recreation (NDPRD) has received a grant of nearly $4.5 million through the National Park Service (NDS) Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program to support park redevelopment projects in North Dakota.
The grant award will help fund the following projects:
- $3,489,750 for the Grand Forks Downtown Gateway and Greenway, an outdoor recreational area consisting of 2,200 acres.
- $1,000,000 to support the Turtle Mountain Family Recreation Area
The ORLP Program, created in 2014, is funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and provides park project grants for communities with more than 30,000 residents.
“This is a monumental achievement for North Dakota Parks and Recreation, as it's the first time our state has received an Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership grant,” said NDPRD Cody Schulz. “We're excited to be working with both the City of Grand Forks and the Turtle Mountain Housing Authority on these projects, which will provide new recreational opportunities and lasting benefits for these communities and visitors."
The Grand Forks park project is a three-phased master plan in which the ORLP grant will fund Phase 1.
“Winning this highly competitive grant is a huge victory for our hard-working city staff,” said Grand Forks Mayor Brandon Bochenski. “Enhancing the Greenway continues to improve the quality of life in Grand Forks and is a great addition to both attract and retain families and workforce.”
LWCF was created in 1965 by NPS and is primarily funded with federal offshore oil and gas lease revenue. In North Dakota, LWCF grants are administered by NDPRD to support park development to expand outdoor recreation access.
This funding is part of the single largest grant investment ever from the ORLP Program in which they have awarded nearly $254 million in 24 states to redevelop or create new local parks.
The mission of the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department is to enrich generations through experiences that connect people and places.