It was another exciting week for the Land and Water Conservation Fund! This week, NRPA was honored to be asked to join the Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke, for his announcement of the FY 2018 apportionment for the LWCF state assistance account.

This was quite an honor, as we were the only national organization on the ground for the announcement. The Secretary announced $100 million in total was being distributed to every state and territory. 

On Tuesday, I traveled to Lafayette, Louisiana, for the event and to represent NRPA.  The Secretary’s event was at Acadiana Park, part of the Lafayette Consolidated Government park system. The Department of the Interior chose Acadiana Park as it is the recipient of an LWCF grant that will allow the park to construct a bridge across a bayou to open parkland that was previously difficult for visitors to access.  This area is also home to a butterfly garden and numerous trails. 

Not only was NRPA asked by the Department to attend, I had the honor of speaking to the assembled press to thank the Secretary and Congressional appropriators for the investment in local parks.  Secretary Zinke spoke favorably of the work you all do daily and the positive impact that outdoor recreation has on the economy. 

Learn how much your state is getting.

Kyle Simpson is NRPA's Senior Government Affairs Manager.