Local Governments Taking a Lead

Local governments, including tribal governments, have taken a central role in meeting the increasing need and demand by growing youth populations and the increasingly healthier adult population for adequate recreation areas, green space, and facilities close to home. From parks to playgrounds, wild lands to wetlands, bicycle paths to hiking trails, the Stewardship program has served as an important tool to communities statewide to acquire recreation areas, water resources, and open space for its residents and visitors.

Since the beginning of the program in 1990, local governments have been awarded over $63 million for over 1000 land acquisition and development projects. Equally as impressive, these same communities have committed well over $63 million to directly match the public's investment in their projects. Some of the beneficial ways communities have used Stewardship Local Assistance funds include:

• Acquiring land for public outdoor park and recreation areas.
• Providing access for water-based recreation, including boating, swimming, fishing, and quiet places to sit and enjoy the view.
• Acquiring land to preserve or restore urban rivers or riverfronts for recreation and economic revitalization
• Developing trail systems for activities such as hiking, biking, cross country skiing and horse back riding.
• Building and renovating recreation support facilities including restroom/shower buildings, shelters, campgrounds, entrance stations, parking areas, picnic areas, and piers.
• Linking Stewardship projects with working agricultural and forest lands in rural areas when such linkages are mutually beneficial.
• Improving accessibility to the outdoors and recreation facilities.
• Acquiring conservation easements, including the acquisition of development rights, where it enhances or provides nature-based outdoor recreation.

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