LWCF Program Priorities

The authors of the LWCF Act of 1965 envisioned a comprehensive program that addresses a broad spectrum of public outdoor recreation needs across the country but specific to individual states. To accomplish this, the law requires states to maintain an up-to-date statewide comprehensive outdoor recreation plan to be eligible to receive the funds. States are required to use the plan as a framework for determining the priorities for use of their LWCF funds. Refer to the following website to view current SCORP: www.dnr.wi.gov/planning/scorp/past_scorps/2000/

Note: Wisconsin’s Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) is currently under revision and should be complete by November, 2006. Refer to the following website address to view progress. www.dnr.wi.gov/planning/scorp/

In general, eligible projects include land acquisition and facilities development for public outdoor recreation purposes. The LWCF program supports projects as diverse as acquiring land for a new state park in northwestern Wisconsin to developing a multi-use community park in a Kenosha County community. During the LWCF grant process, DNR regional staff review and rate eligible project proposals using a set of rating questions that reflect the LWCF program’s priorities. The projects are then combined in a statewide listing and prioritized according to rating score. Projects ranking the highest are awarded a grant to the extent that funds are available. Following is a list of Priority Rating Criteria for the LWCF program.

Funding Criteria for Evaluating Projects (not in priority order):

• Relationship to the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan; activities must be in locally approved plans
• Regional or statewide in nature
• Acquires land where a plan supports need
• Provides or enhances water-based activity
• Serves the greatest populations
• Involves other local government’s, cooperation, volunteers, local donations
• First time applicants
• Sponsor has completed past projects
• Provides multi-season, multi activity use
• Basic over elaborate facilities
• Participant over spectator facilities
• “Nature based” restriction does not apply