Land and Recreation Grants Section

Florida Communities Trust (FCT) administers two competitive grant programs funded through the Florida Forever Program. The Parks and Open Space Program and Working Waterfronts Program provide state funds to local governments and nonprofit organizations for land acquisitions.

FCT assists communities in protecting important natural resources, providing recreational opportunities and preserving Florida's traditional working waterfronts through the competitive criteria in the Parks and Open Space Florida Forever Grant Program and the Stan Mayfield Working Waterfronts Florida Forever Grant Program.

These local land acquisition grant programs provide funding to local governments and eligible nonprofit organizations to acquire land for parks, open space, greenways and projects supporting Florida's seafood harvesting and aquaculture industries. The source of funding for Florida Communities Trust comes from Florida Forever proceeds. 

• Parks and Open Space Florida Grant Program.
• Stan Mayfield Working Waterfronts Florida Forever Grant Program.
• Florida Communities Trust Governing Board.

FRDAP is a competitive grant program that provides state funds for the acquisition or development of lands for public outdoor recreational use. All county governments and incorporated municipalities of the state of Florida and other legally constituted local governmental entities with the legal responsibility for the provision of outdoor recreational sites and facilities for the use and benefit of the general public.

The Land and Recreation Grants staff administers grants to local governments through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The LWCF is a federal competitive program that provides grants for acquisition or development of land for public outdoor recreation.

Eligible participants include all county governments, municipalities in Florida and other legally constituted local governmental entities with the responsibility for providing outdoor recreational sites and facilities for the general public. 

Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partship Grants Program (ORLP)

ORLP is a nationally competitive program targeting grant assistance to help economically disadvantaged urban communities with no, or almost no, access to publicly available, close-by, outdoor recreation. Funds can be used for for the acquisition and/or development of, or to substantially renovate obsolete, public parks and other outdoor recreation spaces. 

Readiness and Recreation Initiative (LWCF + REPI)

The Readiness and Recreation Initiative is a nationally competitive federal grant program funded by the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, and the Department of Defense. Authorized by Congress, the program provides for the acquisition or acquisition and development of compatible recreation facilities on public lands within a REPI Partnership Agreement area.