Central ND News

The National Park Service (NPS) has announced an award of $921,663.50 to the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). This funding will facilitate the renovation of approximately 23 campsites at Fort Ransom State Park by upgrading electrical services from 30 to 50 ampere capacity. Additionally, water hydrants will be installed at the campsites.

Since 1965, the NPS has provided more than 40,000 LWCF grants, primarily funded with federal offshore oil and gas lease revenue, to states and local communities. These awards enable states to allocate funds for local public parks projects, state conservation efforts, and expanding outdoor recreation access.

In 2019, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) contributed to passing the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act. The legislation reauthorized and reformed the LWCF program to ensure that states receive at least 40 percent of its funding. Grants distributed through the LWCF program are determined locally and reviewed at the state level through a process managed by state partners of the NPS.