The Readiness and Recreation Initiative (RARI) is a nationally competitive grant program that provides funding to enhance recreational opportunities near military installations. It was established in 2023 through a partnership between the Department of the Interior and the Department of War.

RARI‘s goals are to preserve the environment, boost disaster resilience for military installations and communities, and provide public outdoor recreation opportunities. Since its creation, RARI has committed $9.4 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to projects nationwide.

RARI funds an array of projects and facilities, like sports fields, playgrounds, walking trails, and nature reserves. RARI projects must benefit the general public and military families alike.

Funding Opportunity - OPEN

A five-year Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the ORLP was released by the National Park Service (NPS) on June 8, 2026. State LWCF lead agencies may request grants on behalf of the state or eligible local jurisdictions. Interested applicants should contact Justin Hancock at 803-734-1747 or jhancock@scprt.com.

Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis as they are received. Since RARI projects are selected on a rolling basis, applicants will be notified as their projects are selected; applicants should be notified within 6 months of submitting their application.

All applications must be complete, including all application requirements identified in the NOFO, in order for SCPRT to submit to NPS for review. Incomplete applications, applications that do not meet all eligibility requirements, cannot be recommended to NPS.

NPS reviews and makes final award decisions for RARI.

RARI Basic Requirements

• Eligibility – Projects must be located within an active Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Partnership Opportunity Area or within a sentinel landscape.
• Applicants can check whether their proposed project is in a REPI Partnership Opportunity Area and/or Sentinel Landscape via the REPI Interactive Map.
• Applicants must have a Letter of Support from a Military Installation or Range commander.
• Land Acquisition - All RARI projects must include a land acquisition component. Projects that combine land acquisition and site development are also eligible.
• Matching Requirement - RARI funds and reimburses up to 50% of all project costs. Applicants are responsible for finding other non-federal funds for at least 50% of project costs or pursuing REPI funds to meet the cost-sharing requirement.
• Perpetuity Requirement - Projects assisted through RARI must be maintained and accessible exclusively for public outdoor recreation use in perpetuity.
• Other Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Requirements – As a LWCF program, RARI projects must align with the purposes and requirements of the LWCF Act, LWCF Manual, and South Carolina’s State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP).

The Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program (REPI)

To further support RARI, the Department of War offers Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program funds, which can serve as a matching source for RARI’s cost-sharing requirement. This collaboration between the Department of War and the National Park Service is protecting land surrounding military installations while improving access to outdoor recreation for millions of Americans and military communities. SCPRT does not administer grants for REPI.