Concord, N.H. – Today, Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander, Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Representative Chris Pappas (NH-01) celebrated more than $600,000 headed to New Hampshire from the Land Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Administered by the National Park Service, the LWCF stateside grant program provides critical resources to the state and local parks that bolster the Granite State’s outdoor recreation economy. LWCF funding was awarded to the New Hampshire Department of Natural and Cultural Resources for projects at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye and Minnewawa Brook Park in Marlborough.

“New Hampshire is home to the most beautiful land in America, and outdoor recreation is core to our way of life,” said Congresswoman Goodlander. “The federal funding we’re announcing today for New Hampshire’s public parks will make a difference to communities across our state. And I’ll never stop working to deliver every penny of federal funding promised to New Hampshire.”

“At a time when the current administration is working against environmental protection and conservation efforts, I’m glad to see funding flow to New Hampshire’s parks from the Land Water Conservation Fund to support close-to-home recreation opportunities,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’ve long championed LWCF, and I will continue to fight for this program that helps our state’s nearly $4 billion outdoor recreation economy thrive.”

“Granite Staters recognize the value of well-maintained parks and recreation areas that showcase our state’s natural beauty,” said Senator Hassan. “My colleagues and I worked together on a bipartisan basis to pass into law the Great American Outdoors Act to help fund projects like these, which will help preserve and improve the outdoor spaces that are so central to our way of life and economy.”

“New Hampshire’s great outdoors is a national treasure that brings visitors to our state, provides families space for outdoor recreation, and boosts our local economy,” said Congressman Pappas. “This funding comes at a critical time as the administration continues to roll back environmental protections, water standards, and more. We must continue working to protect our environment and with it the health of our communities, economy, and future.”

The Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1964 established one of America’s most successful programs that supports outdoor recreation through conservation of land, water, historic and recreational heritage. America’s outdoor recreation economy contributes $1.2 trillion to the nation’s economy each year and supports more than 5 million American jobs, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). In New Hampshire, outdoor recreation added $3.9 billion to New Hampshire’s economy and employed 32,000 Granite Staters in 2023. 

The following New Hampshire projects were awarded funding through LWCF:

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