Opportunity Information: Apply for P26AS00146
Apply for P26AS00146
- The National Park Service in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Readiness and Recreation Initiative (RARI) – Recurring 5 Year Notice" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.916.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-08.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2030-11-30.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Readiness and Recreation Initiative (RARI) is a discretionary grant program run by the National Park Service (NPS) under the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) State and Local Assistance Program. It is designed to fund projects that expand public outdoor recreation while also supporting military readiness and community resilience. In practical terms, the program targets places where conserving land and guiding development patterns can both protect military missions (such as training ranges, flight paths, and other operational areas) and deliver lasting recreation benefits for nearby communities. RARI funding is offered in addition to the normal LWCF state formula grants, and it does not reduce or change a state or territory's regular LWCF apportionment.
RARI has two core goals: first, to provide outdoor recreation opportunities for the public; and second, to encourage compatible land uses and prevent incompatible development in areas near, or ecologically connected to, military installations or military airspace, and/or to improve disaster resilience. The program is structured as a partnership approach and is intended to leverage resources across agencies, including coordination with the Department of War (DOW) and the military-focused Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program. The concept is that land conservation and recreation access can serve multiple public purposes at once: protecting habitat and landscapes, reducing land-use conflicts that can limit training or operations, and strengthening community resilience to hazards.
A major feature of RARI is its cost-share structure. The grant is a dollar-for-dollar match and generally covers up to 50 percent of total eligible project costs, with the applicant responsible for the remaining 50 percent. However, the notice highlights an important flexibility for this specific program: REPI funds are allowable to meet the LWCF cost-share requirement under 10 U.S.C. 2684a. As a result, a project could potentially reach 100 percent of funding through the combination of these two federal sources (LWCF RARI plus REPI), assuming all other requirements are satisfied and the partnering agencies approve the funding arrangement.
Eligibility is tightly defined. Projects must include a land acquisition component, meaning the proposal needs to involve purchasing land or an interest in land (for example, acquiring property to conserve it and open it for eligible recreation uses). The project must be located within an eligible geography: either an active REPI Partnership Opportunity Area or a designated Sentinel Landscape. In addition, applicants must secure a Letter of Support from a relevant military installation or range commander, which signals that the proposed conservation and recreation outcomes align with military readiness needs and local installation priorities. The notice also points applicants to the REPI Interactive Map as the tool to confirm whether a proposed site falls inside a REPI Partnership Opportunity Area and/or a Sentinel Landscape, using map layers labeled for REPI opportunity areas and Sentinel Landscapes.
Because RARI sits within LWCF, it brings LWCF compliance obligations that are central to project design. One of the most significant is the perpetuity requirement: any park, site, or project area assisted through RARI must be maintained and accessible exclusively for public outdoor recreation use in perpetuity. This protection applies to the assisted park or site as a whole, not just to the specific portion paid for with grant dollars. Applicants also need to show alignment with LWCF law and policy, including consistency with the LWCF Manual and demonstration that the project meets a priority need or goal identified in the state or territory's Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). In addition, projects must be responsive to current Executive and national priorities referenced in the notice, including Executive Order 14313 (Establishing the President's Make America Beautiful Again Commission) and Secretarial Order 3442 related to LWCF implementation by the Department of the Interior.
Who can apply depends on the applicant's role in the LWCF structure. Only the designated State and Territorial Lead Agencies may apply directly to NPS for RARI funds. These lead agencies exist in each of the 50 states and in eligible territories and jurisdictions including American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and they are designated by the governor or by state legislation under the LWCF Act (54 U.S.C. 200305(a)). Other entities can participate as sub-recipients but must apply through their State or Territorial Lead Agency. Eligible sub-recipients include other state agencies, federally recognized Indian tribes, and local units of government or special purpose districts, provided those entities can demonstrate the legal authority and capacity to acquire, develop, own, and manage recreation areas and to comply with LWCF's perpetual protection requirements.
From the funding and administrative details provided, the opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 15.916, uses the grant instrument, and is categorized as discretionary. The award ceiling is $3,000,000 per award, with an expectation of around 10 awards. The opportunity is posted as a recurring five-year notice with an application closing date listed as November 30, 2030. Overall, the program is best understood as a land-acquisition-centered conservation and recreation funding stream that also serves national defense readiness goals, requiring close coordination among state or territorial LWCF lead agencies, local partners, and military leadership to deliver projects that are permanently protected for public outdoor recreation.
Readiness and Recreation Initiative (RARI) - FAQs
What is the Readiness and Recreation Initiative (RARI)?
RARI is a discretionary grant program run by the National Park Service (NPS) under the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) State and Local Assistance Program. It funds projects that expand public outdoor recreation while also supporting military readiness and community resilience.
How does RARI relate to the regular LWCF state formula grants?
RARI funding is offered in addition to the normal LWCF state formula grants. It does not reduce or change a state or territory's regular LWCF apportionment.
What are the main goals of the RARI program?
RARI has two core goals: (1) provide outdoor recreation opportunities for the public, and (2) encourage compatible land uses and prevent incompatible development near, or ecologically connected to, military installations or military airspace, and/or improve disaster resilience.
What kinds of projects does RARI support?
Projects must include a land acquisition component, meaning the proposal needs to involve purchasing land or an interest in land (for example, acquiring property to conserve it and open it for eligible recreation uses).
Is land acquisition required for eligibility?
Yes. Eligibility is tightly defined and projects must include a land acquisition component (purchase of land or an interest in land).
Where must a RARI project be located to be eligible?
The project must be located within an eligible geography: either an active REPI Partnership Opportunity Area or a designated Sentinel Landscape.
How can applicants confirm whether a site is in an eligible area?
The notice points applicants to the REPI Interactive Map to confirm whether a proposed site falls inside a REPI Partnership Opportunity Area and/or a Sentinel Landscape. The relevant map layers are labeled for REPI opportunity areas and Sentinel Landscapes.
What is required from military leadership for a RARI application?
Applicants must secure a Letter of Support from a relevant military installation or range commander. This signals that the proposed conservation and recreation outcomes align with military readiness needs and local installation priorities.
How does RARI support military readiness in practical terms?
RARI targets places where conserving land and guiding development patterns can protect military missions such as training ranges, flight paths, and other operational areas, while delivering lasting recreation benefits for nearby communities.
How is RARI designed to work as a partnership program?
RARI is intended to leverage resources across agencies, including coordination with the Department of War (DOW) and the military-focused Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program.
What is the standard cost-share (match) requirement under RARI?
RARI is a dollar-for-dollar match program and generally covers up to 50 percent of total eligible project costs, with the applicant responsible for the remaining 50 percent.
Can REPI funds be used to meet the LWCF cost-share requirement?
Yes. The notice highlights flexibility for this program: REPI funds are allowable to meet the LWCF cost-share requirement under 10 U.S.C. 2684a.
Is it possible to reach 100 percent funding using RARI and REPI together?
Potentially, yes. A project could reach 100 percent funding through a combination of LWCF RARI plus REPI, assuming all other requirements are satisfied and the partnering agencies approve the funding arrangement.
Who is eligible to apply directly to NPS for RARI funds?
Only the designated State and Territorial Lead Agencies may apply directly to NPS for RARI funds.
Which states and territories/jurisdictions have eligible State or Territorial Lead Agencies for this program?
Lead agencies exist in each of the 50 states and in eligible territories and jurisdictions including American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
How are State and Territorial Lead Agencies designated?
They are designated by the governor or by state legislation under the LWCF Act (54 U.S.C. 200305(a)).
Can local governments, tribes, or other entities apply?
They can participate as sub-recipients, but must apply through their State or Territorial Lead Agency. Eligible sub-recipients include other state agencies, federally recognized Indian tribes, and local units of government or special purpose districts.
What capacity must sub-recipients demonstrate to participate?
Sub-recipients must be able to demonstrate the legal authority and capacity to acquire, develop, own, and manage recreation areas and to comply with LWCF's perpetual protection requirements.
What is the LWCF perpetuity requirement and how does it apply to RARI projects?
Any park, site, or project area assisted through RARI must be maintained and accessible exclusively for public outdoor recreation use in perpetuity. This protection applies to the assisted park or site as a whole, not just to the specific portion paid for with grant dollars.
Does the perpetuity requirement apply only to the acreage purchased with grant funds?
No. The notice states the perpetuity protection applies to the assisted park or site as a whole, not just the specific portion paid for with grant dollars.
What planning and policy alignment is required under LWCF for RARI projects?
Applicants need to show alignment with LWCF law and policy, including consistency with the LWCF Manual. Applicants must also demonstrate that the project meets a priority need or goal identified in the state or territory's Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP).
Are there specific Executive or national priorities referenced for RARI?
Yes. The notice references current Executive and national priorities including Executive Order 14313 (Establishing the President's Make America Beautiful Again Commission) and Secretarial Order 3442 related to LWCF implementation by the Department of the Interior.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 15.916.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The opportunity uses the grant instrument.
Is RARI a discretionary or formula program?
RARI is categorized as a discretionary program.
What is the maximum award amount (ceiling) per RARI grant?
The award ceiling is $3,000,000 per award.
How many awards are expected?
The notice indicates an expectation of around 10 awards.
What is the application closing date listed in the notice?
The closing date listed is November 30, 2030, and the opportunity is posted as a recurring five-year notice.
What is the overall focus of RARI compared to other recreation grants?
RARI is best understood as a land-acquisition-centered conservation and recreation funding stream that also serves national defense readiness goals. It requires close coordination among state or territorial LWCF lead agencies, local partners, and military leadership, and it results in sites that are permanently protected for public outdoor recreation.
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