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Columbia, S.C. – The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism (SCPRT) will soon begin accepting pre-applications from eligible local and state government entities for the 2026 Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant cycle. This federal program provides matching grants ranging from $50,000 to $1,000,000 for the acquisition or development of outdoor recreation areas and facilities.

Since 1965, the LWCF program has provided more than $67 million to support approximately 1,200 recreation projects in South Carolina. These projects include some of South Carolina’s favorite local parks, such as:

· Arrowhead Park Splash Pad, Town of Cheraw

· Boyd Pond Park Amphitheater, Aiken County

· Cheraw State Park Boardwalk Renovation, SC State Parks

· Cleveland Park Playground Replacement, City of Greenville

· Cooper River County Park Development, Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission

· Ridgeland Trails, Town of Ridgeland

· Catawba Bend Preserve Mountain Bike Trails, York County

· Lindsay Park Improvements, Marlboro County

Twenty-three projects across South Carolina were selected to receive more than $8.8 million in federal funding in the most recent LWCF grant cycle. Discover what parks and properties in your local area have received LWCF support over the past 60 years here.

LWCF is a reimbursable grant program requiring a 50% match. Property must be owned outright by the applicant, and only eligible state agencies and local governments may apply. Any property that uses LWCF funds must be maintained in perpetuity as an active and viable outdoor recreation venue.

Eligible entities interested in applying for the 2026 LWCF grant cycle must submit an online pre-application to SCPRT between August 4 and September 12. Find eligibility criteria, contact information, and learn more about the application process at scprt.com/recreation/recreation-grant-programs/land-and-water-conservation-fund.

SCPRT serves as South Carolina’s LWCF lead agency. The program is administered by the National Park Service.

Learn more about all SCPRT’s grant programs at scprt.com/grants.

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