If a bill recently introduced to Congress passes, a federal fund used to support parks and open spaces across the nation could be dismantled. 

The Land and Water Conservation Fund lapsed on Sept. 30 when Congress failed to reauthorize it. The program had set aside $2.46 million per day to fund projects such as trails, playgrounds and recreation centers in nearly every U.S. county. 

Some Republicans opposing reauthorization argue that the law needs overhauling. A significant portion of the funds should go to state and local projects, they say, and the money should be used mainly to maintain existing park infrastructure rather than to purchase more land, which they argue takes away from the local tax base. 

U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, has introduce a bill that would extensively rework the program, angering many environmental groups. 

“Americans in virtually every county of the United States enjoy trails, playgrounds and recreation centers paid for by the Land and Water Conservation Fund and overwhelmingly support the continuation of the program as is,” said a statement from The Wilderness Society. 

A map of projects funded by the Land and and Water Conservation Fund — including many in Western North Carolina is available at www.wilderness.org/mapping-land-and-water-conservation-fund-lwcf.