Readiness and Recreation Initiative

RARI Program Status Update - 5/22/2025

The next round for RARI project applications is expected to be released soon. Please check back for more updates. 

Naval Support Activity (NSA) Crane, with the support of Westgate Authority, was selected for a RARI grant in 2024 to create a 191-acre county park. Here NSA Crane hosts a fishing tournament teaming up service members with young adults.

U.S. Navy

About RARI

The Readiness and Recreation Initiative (RARI) is a nationally competitive grant program that utilizes Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars to enhance recreational opportunities near military installations. Established in 2023 through a partnership between the Department of the Interior and the Department of Defense, RARI addresses the recognized need for improved land use compatibility and outdoor recreation around military installations. To further support this initiative, the Department of Defense offers Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program funds, which can serve as a matching source for RARI’s cost-sharing requirement. As a result, up to 100% of project costs could be funded with federal resources. This collaboration between the Department of Defense and the National Park Service is protecting land surrounding military installations while improving access to outdoor recreation for millions of Americans and defense communities.

Since its establishment, the initiative has committed $9.4 million to protect military readiness, preserve the environment, boost disaster resilience for military installations and communities, and provide public outdoor recreation opportunities.

U.S. Marine Corps

RARI funds an array of projects and facilities, from sports fields and playgrounds to walking trails and nature reserves. RARI projects must benefit the general public and military families alike, and could include land acquisition, site development, or renovation of existing facilities. You can learn more about prior RARI projects at the Department of Defense REPI Program's website.

All RARI Projects must meet the dual purposes of:

1. Providing outdoor recreation opportunities, and
2. Promoting or supporting compatible land uses in areas in the vicinity of, or ecologically related to, a military installation or military airspace, and/or to maintain or enhance disaster resilience.

U.S. Air Force

RARI Basic Requirements

• Eligibility – Projects must be located within an active REPI Partnership Opportunity Area or within a sentinel landscape. Applicants can check whether their proposed project is in a REPI Partnership Opportunity Area and/or Sentinel Landscape via the REPI Interactive Map.
  • Applicants must have a Letter of Support from a Military Installation or Range commander.
• Matching Requirement - RARI is dollar for dollar match, meaning it funds and reimburses up to 50% of all project costs. Applicants are responsible for finding other non-federal funds for at least 50% of project costs or pursuing Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) funds to meet the cost sharing requirement.
• Perpetuity Requirement - Projects assisted through RARI must be maintained and accessible exclusively for public outdoor recreation use in perpetuity. This applies to the assisted park or site in its entirety, not just the area assisted by the grant funds.
• Other Land & Water Conservation Fund Requirements – As an LWCF program, RARI projects must align with the purposes and requirements of the LWCF Act, LWCF Manual, and your relevant state’s State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP).

Interested in seeking funding through the Readiness and Recreation Initiative?

Visit our Application Information & Timeline page to learn more about the eligibility, the application process, and additional resources.

Still have questions?

Reach out to the National Park Service's RARI program by emailing us at [e-mail].