WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced that the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) has awarded $54,227 to Erie MetroParks to add support facilities, sports and playfields, and winter sports facilities at Voinovich Park along with the Department of Port Control and the City of Cleveland.

“These federal funds will provide more recreation opportunities for Erie County residents,” said Brown. “The Land and Water Conservation Fund is critical to funding recreational opportunities at places like Voinovich Park.”

In July, DOI Secretary Sally Jewell traveled to Cleveland to announce $42 million in LWCF funding to all 50 states, territories and the District of Columbia. The LWCF uses revenue from offshore oil and gas drilling to fund conservation and recreation projects in every state. It is authorized to be funded at $900 million but its funding is often diverted towards other programs, leaving many important conservation projects unfunded. Without Congressional action, the Fund will expire September 30. LWCF funds have supported conservation projects across Ohio including Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, and Wayne National Forest.

###