NRPA Statement on Congressional Investment in Outdoor Recreation Projects

Kristine Stratton, president and CEO of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), issued the following statement in response to congressional appropriators, including robust funding for outdoor recreation programs in FY2026 appropriations bills:

"NRPA applauds the House and Senate Appropriations Committees for their commitment to funding state and local outdoor recreation infrastructure in the FY2026 appropriations bills introduced in July 2025.

The funding legislation in both chambers includes nearly $315 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Stateside programs that invest in close-to-home outdoor recreation infrastructure, including $175 million for the State Conservation Grants and $125 million for the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program.

This funding level funding reaffirms Congress' bipartisan prioritization of outdoor recreation and comes on the heels of last year's unanimous passage of the Outdoors for All Act, which permanently authorized the ORLP Program. These LWCF Stateside investments improve and expand access to parks and recreation spaces, particularly in under-resourced communities.

Everyone - regardless of ZIP code - deserves access to high-quality, close-to-home parks and green spaces. These investments not only bring that dream closer to reality, but they also serve to drive economic development, reduce healthcare costs, enhance environmental protection and provide a multitude of additional benefits to recipient communities.

NRPA thanks the leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies for their work on this legislation: Senator Lisa Murkowski, Senator Jeff Merkley, Congressman Mike Simpson and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree. As Congress works toward passage of final FY2026 appropriations legislation, NRPA urges that these investments are maintained and signed into law.

For more information about NRPA, please visit nrpa.org.

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About the National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is the leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation. With more than 60,000 members, NRPA advances this mission by investing in and championing the work of park and recreation professionals and advocates - the catalysts for positive change in service of equity, environmental resilience, and health and well-being. For more information, visit nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA's flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit parksandrecreation.org.