AUGUSTA – The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands has announced a deadline of July 21 for grant applications for funding outdoor recreation facilities through the federally funded Land and Water Conservation Fund program.

This program, administered through the Maine Department of Conservation’s Bureau of Parks and Lands, can provide 50 percent matching grants to qualified applicants.

This grant round will provide for the distribution of funds available from the federal fiscal year 2006 appropriation to the state from the National Park Service.

Funds available to municipalities and other governmental organizations total $100,000. The funds may be used for acquisition of land for outdoor recreation, construction of new facilities, and renovation of existing facilities. Applicants may apply for a maximum of $25,000 in federal funding for projects.

Since the program’s inception in 1965, every county in Maine has benefited. In all, 786 projects have shared more than $39 million in LWCF funds over those 40 years.

Further information and applications for funding are available by contacting the Grants and Community Recreation Division of the Bureau of Parks and Lands, 22 State House Station, Augusta, 04333, by calling 287-4962 or e-mailing to bud.newell@maine.gov.

Maine Wildlife Park to open

The Maine Wildlife Park will open for the season on April 15, giving visitors a chance to see more than 25 species of Maine wildlife.

The park, which is located on Route 26 in Gray, offers the opportunity to see moose, deer, black bears, mountain lions, porcupines, coyotes, owls, turtles, hawks, trout, and more.

The park features nature trails and wildlife gardens, interactive exhibits, a snack shack, a nature store, and a gift shop.

The park will be open daily from April 15 through Nov. 11 from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Admission to the park is $5 for adults, $3.25 for children ages 4-12, and free for children 3 and under. Seniors get in for $4 and groups of 15 or more pay $2.50 per person.

Friends of NRA banquet set

If you’re a hunter, a fan of the shooting sports, or a gun collector, you may want to join some folks who share your passion for firearms at an upcoming event.

The Friends of NRA banquet and auction will be held April 22 at the Bangor Conference Center on Hogan Road. The evening’s events begin at 6 p.m.

For more information, call Tony Richard at 827-3440.