Readiness and Recreation Initiative (RARI) – Recurring 5 Year Notice
🏛 National Park Service (DOI-NPS)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 27, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for state and territorial governments funding land acquisition projects that support outdoor recreation and military readiness. Eligible applicants include state and territorial lead agencies from all 50 states, DC, territories, and federally recognized tribes applying through their state agency. Projects must be located in an active REPI Partnership Opportunity Area or Sentinel Landscape and include a letter of support from a military installation commander.
Sub-recipients (tribes, local governments, special districts) must apply through their state lead agency. All projects require land acquisition components and must maintain public outdoor recreation access in perpetuity. Projects must align with the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) and address national priorities.
50% cost-sharing is required, though DOW REPI funds can count toward the match. Award sizes range from $250,000 to $3,000,000.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
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Program description
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites applications for the Readiness and Recreation Initiative (RARI), administered by the National Park Service (NPS). The purpose of the program is to: 1) provide outdoor recreation opportunities, and 2) promote or support compatible land uses and avoid incompatible development in areas in the vicinity of, or ecologically related to, a military installation or military airspace, and/or to maintain or enhance disaster resilience. RARI is a program within the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). State and Local Assistance Program. RARI funding is available in addition to traditional LWCF state formula grants and does not affect state apportionments. RARI operates in partnership with the Department of War (DOW) and seeks to leverage funding across departments to benefit the general public and military communities. RARI is dollar for dollar match, meaning it covers up to 50% of all project costs and applicants are responsible for funding the remaining 50% of project costs. However, for RARI projects, DOW Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) funds are allowable to meet the LWCF Act’s cost-share requirement (10 U.S.C. 2684a). Therefore, 100% of project costs could be funded through these two federal programs. To be eligible, proposed projects must: Include a land acquisition component. Be in a Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Partnership Opportunity Area or Sentinel Landscape. Have a Letter of Support from a Military Installation or Range commander.1 Additional LWCF requirements for the RARI program: Perpetuity Requirement – Projects assisted through RARI must be maintained and accessible exclusively for public outdoor recreation use in perpetuity. This applies to the assisted park or site in its entirety, not just the area assisted by the grant funds. Alignment with LWCF Law and Policy – As an LWCF program, RARI projects must align with the purposes and requirements of the LWCF Act and LWCF Manual. This includes meeting a priority need or goal identified in the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). Alignment with National Priorities – Projects must be responsive to Executive and National priorities, including those outlined in Executive Order 14313, “Establishing the President’s Make America Beautiful Again Commission” and Secretarial Order 3442, “Land and Water Conservation Fund Implementation by the U.S. Department of the Interior.”
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Letter of support from military installation or range commander
- Proof of location in REPI Partnership Opportunity Area or Sentinel Landscape
- Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) alignment documentation
- Cost-share commitment letters or documentation
- Land acquisition plan or deed documentation
- Perpetuity protection mechanism (deed restriction, easement, or equivalent)
Program contact
- 👤 National Park Service
- 📧 RARI_Inquiries@nps.gov
- 📞 202-697-2035
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 15.916 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$15,000,000
-
$15,000,000
-
$14,999,984
-
$11,909,000
-
$11,353,000
-
$10,998,510
-
$10,813,779
-
$10,000,000
-
$10,000,000
-
$10,000,000
Top States by Funding
- CA 29 awards $168.0M
- TX 10 awards $63.2M
- NY 9 awards $38.4M
- NC 5 awards $29.6M
- VA 5 awards $25.5M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 15.916). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2019 | $122,539,072 | |
| 2020 | $54,556,098 | |
| 2021 | $178,987,177 | |
| 2022 | $227,722,447 | |
| 2023 | $317,277,604 | |
| 2024 | $444,259,943 | |
| 2025 est. | $600,000,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $600,000,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply directly for RARI funding?
State and territorial lead agencies can apply directly. Tribes, local governments, and other agencies must apply through their state lead agency.
Where can projects be located?
Projects must be in an active REPI Partnership Opportunity Area or Sentinel Landscape. Check the NPS website to confirm your area is eligible.
What must projects include?
Projects must include a land acquisition component and require a letter of support from a military installation or range commander.
How much cost-sharing is required?
Applicants must provide 50% of project costs. DOW REPI funds can count toward this match, potentially allowing 100% federal coverage.
What is the perpetuity requirement?
The entire assisted site must remain accessible for public outdoor recreation use in perpetuity, not just the federally funded portion.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Confirm your project area is in a designated REPI Partnership Opportunity Area or Sentinel Landscape before investing application effort.
- Secure the military installation letter of support early; this is a non-negotiable requirement.
- Review your state's SCORP to ensure your project addresses identified outdoor recreation priorities.
- Explore partnering with DOW on REPI funding to meet or exceed the 50% cost-share requirement.
- Document your perpetuity protection mechanism clearly (deed restrictions, conservation easement, etc.) in the application.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications fail when projects lack military installation support letters or fall outside REPI Partnership areas. Applicants underestimate the perpetuity maintenance requirement and fail to demonstrate long-term public access. Weak alignment with state SCORP priorities or national goals weakens competitiveness.
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