Description
The Readiness and Recreation Initiative (RARI) is a program administered by the National Park Service that provides funding for outdoor recreation opportunities and promotes compatible land uses and avoids incompatible development in areas near military installations or military airspace. The program is a 50% matching grant, and applicants can use federal Department of War Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program funds to meet the cost-share requirement. Eligible applicants include state and local governments, federally recognized Indian tribes, and special purpose districts. The program requires a land acquisition component, and projects must be located in a Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Partnership Opportunity Area or Sentinel Landscape.
Some key points to consider:
• The program is a recurring 5-year notice, and applications are evaluated on a rolling basis.
• The program requires a 50% match, but applicants can use federal Department of War Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program funds to meet the cost-share requirement.
• Eligible projects include land acquisition and development for outdoor recreation facilities, such as community parks, campgrounds, and trails.
• Ineligible projects include those that do not include a land acquisition component, acquisition of lands that restrict access to specific persons, and funding for recreation programs or equipment.
• The program has a merit review process, and applications are evaluated based on criteria such as expanding access to outdoor recreation, promoting compatible land use and natural resource protection, and leveraging resources in support of readiness and recreation.