What We Do

Bringing Parks to People

The NPS Federal Lands to Parks program gives surplus federal land, usually at no cost, to states and local governments for public park and recreational use for current and future generations. Surplus properties are properties owned by the Federal government that are no longer needed. Since its inception in 1949, the NPS Federal Lands to Parks program has conveyed approximately 178,000 acres to state and local governments.

This program exists to help communities obtain surplus land from the federal government. We advocate for communities that want to acquire surplus federal land for public parks and recreational use.

We are engaged with our partners every step of the process, from applying for property to obtaining ownership of the land. Once transferred, the local communities and the NPS Federal Lands to Parks program enter into a partnership in perpetuity to safeguard the public land for present and future generations.

The NPS Federal Lands to Parks program is authorized under 40 U.S.C. 550(e).

Finding Out

When surplus federal land becomes available for reuse, the General Services Administration or the Department of Defense will notify state and local governments and federal sponsoring agencies. NPS Federal Lands to Parks program staff review notices of available surplus property and contacts state and local governments to find out if these governmental entities would like to acquire the property for park and recreational use in perpetuity.

The General Services Administration lists currently available surplus properties on its website - https://disposal.gsa.gov/s/

A state or local government agency interested in surplus federal property for parks or recreational areas should notify the Federal Lands to Parks Program regional office in writing. As a sponsoring agency, the National Park Service typically has 25 days from the notice of availability to tell the agency disposing of the property about the state and local government interest.

Applying

State and local governments interested in acquiring surplus property for park and recreational use should contact the appropriate NPS Federal Lands to Parks regional office. By request, the NPS Federal Lands to Parks program will help a potential applicant apply for and acquire the surplus property Successful applications to acquire surplus property for public park and recreational use include a description of:

• A demonstrated need to acquire the surplus property
• The suitability of the property to be used for parks and recreation
• The applicant's capability to operate and maintain the property for parks and recreation
• How the applicant proposes to utilize the property for parks and recreation, supported by a proposed conceptual site plan

Getting Ownership

The FLP program works diligently with the proposed applicant to submit a satisfactory application to acquire the property. Once the application is approved by the National Park Service and the General Services Administration, FLP requests assignment of the property from GSA or the Department of Defense. At no time does the National Park Service take ownership of the property that is being disposed of.

Once the National Park Service receives the necessary documents from the disposal agency, FLP staff drafts the deed with required covenants which conveys the property from the Federal government to the applicant.

Stewardship

After the surplus property is conveyed from the Federal government to the applicant, per statutory requirement, the Federal Lands to Parks program monitors the property's use and development to ensure the property is managed according to the terms and conditions of the approved FLP application and the deed. The property must remain open to the public and used for public park and recreational use for current and future generations.

Questions?

Still have questions? Visit our FAQ.