Creating Local Recreation

The Federal Lands to Parks Program helps communities to acquire, reuse and protect surplus federal properties for local parks and recreation. States, counties, and communities may acquire federal land and buildings no longer needed by the federal government at no cost on condition they are protected for public parks and recreation. 

The Federal Lands to Parks program is a public benefit conveyance program under the Federal Property Act, 40 U.S.C. 550(b) and (e), to help increase close to home recreation opportunities while reducing the federal government’s inventory of real property. Since its inception in 1949, this program has transferred about 178,500 acres of land to state and local governments for parks and recreation use.

The NPS Federal Lands to Parks Program works with communities interested in acquiring property for parks and recreation, from finding out about available property, assisting with the application, advocating for the public recreation, and deeding the property. NPS continues to work with communities to ensure this land remains available and used for public parks and recreation in perpetuity and to protect important natural and cultural resources..