Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Grant and the Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant

The Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Program is a state-financed grant program that provides funding assistance to local government agencies for acquisition and/or development of land for public parks and open space. The federal Land & Water Conservation Fund program (known as both LWCF and LAWCON) is a similar program with similar objectives. Both are managed in Illinois by the Department of Natural Resources with concurrent application due dates, equal grant maximums and similar general rules.

Projects vary from small neighborhood parks or tot lots to large community and county parks and nature areas. The state program is financed by a percentage of the state's Real Estate Transfer Tax. The federal program is financed nationally by revenue from offshore oil and gas leases.

Under both programs, funding assistance up to 50% (100% for distressed communities - OSLAD program only) of approved project costs can be obtained. Grant awards up to $1,725,000.00 are available for acquisition projects, while development/renovation projects (OSLAD programs only) are limited to a $600,000 grant maximum.

OSLAD/LWCF grants are available to units of local government that are authorized by Illinois law to expend public funds for the acquisition and development of land for public outdoor park, recreation, or conservation purposes are eligible to apply for funding assistance. School districts are not eligible.

There are now five grantee pre-award requirements statewide per Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) State Statute 30 ILCS 708/1. The five pre-award requirements all state grantees must complete are described in more detail.

Example of Eligible Projects include:

1. Acquisition of land for new park sites or park expansion, water frontage, nature study, and natural resource preservation. (LWCF & OSLAD)

2. Development/Renovation of: (OSLAD only)

   • Picnic and playground facilities;
   • Outdoor nature interpretive facilities;
   • Sports courts and play fields;
   • Swimming pools, beaches and bathhouses;
   • Campgrounds and fishing piers;
   • winter sports facilities;
   • Park roads and paths, parking, utilities and restrooms; and
   • Architectural/engineering (A/E) services necessary for proper design and construction of approved project components.

Written applications must be submitted to IDNR during the period indicated on the current Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on the GATA website. Only those local government agencies having statutory authority to acquire and develop land for public park purposes are eligible to apply for and receive assistance under the OSLAD and LWCF grant programs.

Applications are evaluated and prioritized for funding assistance based upon recreation priorities and criteria identified in the Department's Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). Lands acquired with OSLAD or LWCF funds are required to be operated and maintained in perpetuity for public outdoor recreation.

All applicants must be pre-qualified through the State of Illinois Grantee Portal. Additional information on prequalification is available here.

Please READ the Notice of Funding Opportunity (OSLAD/LWCF) for more details on this program, including scoring criteria and grant program rules and restrictions.

Download the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Program Manual.

Download the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Program Manual.

OSLAD:  Submit your application through the Amplifund Grant Management System. 

LWCF:  Submit your application through the Amplifund Grant Management System.

No other form of submission will be allowed or eligible.

CATALOG OF STATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE to learn about future funding opportunities.

•  2024 OSLAD Manual
•  2024 LWCF Manual

•  2023 OSLAD Manual
•  2022 OSLAD Manual
•  2022 LWCF Manual

• Illinois Department of Natural Resources Playground Planning Guide

• Illinois Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Recreation Facilities Guide

• Illinois Department of Natural Resources Community Park and Recreation Planning Guide
  

• US Access Board Summary of Accessibility Guidelines for Play Areas

• SFY24 OSLAD Distressed Communities List
• Consultant Access to Amplifund.pdf

Distressed Communities Calculation

An eligible local unit of government located within a Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA):

• EAV Calculation: Per capita EAV is less than 60% of the state average EAV.
• Poverty Calculation:  More than 15% of population below the poverty level.
• Fair-share Calculation:  Per capita OSALD funds received is less than state per capita OSLAD funds awarded.
• Major University:  No major University.

An eligible local unit of government located NOT within a Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA)

• EAV Calculation:  Per capita EAV is less than 50% of the state average EAV.
  
• Poverty Calculation:  More than 20% of population below the poverty level.
• Fair-share Calculation:  Per capita OSALD funds received is less than state per capita OSLAD funds awarded.
• Major University:  No major University.

A Physically Distressed Community is an eligible local unit of government that has encountered catastrophic events such as floods or tornados. 

The community must be:

• In a county declared a "disaster area" by the Governor or President of the United States*,
• The disaster must have directly affected the community applying for the grant. 

The physically distressed status will be allowed one time within a 3-year period. The Department reserves the final determination as to whether an applicant meets the definition of a physically distressed community. 

*The Department may require verification of disaster impacts and a public assistance declaration from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and/or the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) before allowing eligibility under this provision.  

All determinations are final and are based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau and IL Dept. of Revenue.