Tennessee – The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Office of Outdoor Recreation has announced $22,059,191 in grant funding for 31 communities across the state. The funds come through three programs: the Local Parks and Recreation Fund (LPRF), the Tennessee Recreation Initiative Program (TRIP), and the Recreational Trails Program (RTP).
The LPRF program provides state funding to match local government investments for projects involving parks, natural areas, greenways, and recreational facilities, with the requirement that all projects be located on publicly owned land.
TRIP is designed to support cities and counties that lack professional parks and recreation directors and comprehensive recreation delivery systems. The program assists these communities in establishing their first Parks and Recreation Departments.
The RTP program offers federal funding to help local governments acquire land for trails, as well as support non-routine trail maintenance, construction, rehabilitation, and trailhead facilities.
Deputy Commissioner Greer Tidwell highlighted the importance of these grants, saying, “Local parks are an important aspect of outdoor recreation, and we are glad these grants will help communities across the state. This makes parks affordable for local governments, and we look forward to the results of this assistance.”
Brian Clifford, director of the Office of Outdoor Recreation, added, “We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with our local communities to help enhance enjoyment of the great outdoors. These projects will directly improve health and strengthen economies, helping Tennessee thrive through parks and outdoor recreation.”