Standish and Old Orchard Beach were among five communities recently awarded grants through the Land and Water Conservation Fund from the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands.

Land and Water Conservation Fund grants last year provided $366,166 in funding throughout Maine. Five grants recently were awarded to the towns of Vassalboro, Old Orchard Beach, Pittsfield, Standish and Camden.

“This program provides funding for local communities for outdoor recreational facilities, while also providing new economic opportunities,” said Mick Rogers, supervisor of outdoor recreation at the Maine Department of Conservation. “There was a significant increase in interest for this grant opportunity in the past year.”

Thirteen towns applied for the grant funding, Rogers said. The awards are as follows:

• Vassalboro, $35,500, for improvements to the town’s existing recreational fields and restroom improvements.

• Old Orchard Beach, $18,617 for a skate park near the town’s ballpark.

• Pittsfield, $25,000 for phase 2 of the town’s Hathorn Park Recreational Area improvements, including improvements to a gazebo, wheelchair-accessible paths, restroom facilities and a playground.

• Standish, $27,966 for a new playground at the town’s Johnson Field Recreation Area.

• Camden, $75,000 for snowmaking expansion at the Camden Snow Bowl.