The Community Parks and Recreation (CPR) Grant is a new funding opportunity offered by the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation (DOR) under the Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant (UORG) Program. This grant is designed to support the rehabilitation and construction of community park assets, including sports fields, pools, and playgrounds, in order to enhance recreational opportunities for Utah residents. The primary goal of this grant is to improve access to outdoor recreation facilities, particularly in high-density urban areas, rural communities, and low-income regions. The program recognizes that local parks and recreation spaces serve as crucial entry points for children and families to experience the outdoors, fostering an active and healthy lifestyle.

The CPR Grant will be distributed under the same timeline and county-based matching requirements as other UORG grants, such as Tier 1, Recreation Restoration Infrastructure (RRI), and Mini Grants. Matching requirements vary based on the applicant’s county, using a sliding scale system, with a minimum match requirement of 20%. Additionally, applicants facing financial hardship may request a reduced match, provided they can demonstrate that their assigned match rate poses a significant barrier to project completion. This approach ensures equitable access to funding while encouraging broad participation from communities across Utah.

Eligible projects under the CPR Grant include a wide range of community park improvements, such as parking lots, bathrooms, sport courts and fields, court surfaces, permanent goal posts, bleachers, walking paths, lighting, sprinkler systems, equipment sheds, fencing, picnic tables, benches, water fountains, outdoor pools, splash pads, and traditional playground equipment like swings, slides, and monkey bars. However, certain expenses are ineligible, including indoor recreation facilities, removable structures (such as pop-up tents and nets), general maintenance, maintenance equipment, land acquisition, and equipment for specific recreational activities, such as balls and bats.

The application process requires interested entities to submit a detailed proposal outlining their project scope, expected benefits, and budget. Eligible applicants include cities, counties, state agencies, federal agencies, public educational institutions (provided that public access is allowed outside of school hours), and tribal governments. As part of the evaluation criteria, applications will be scored based on community need, economic impact, recreational value, improved physical and recreational access, and budget feasibility. Projects demonstrating strong community engagement, municipal planning, and partnerships with other organizations will be given priority consideration.

The grant application period opens on January 13, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. and closes on March 17, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Award announcements are expected by mid-May. The application must include a location map, site plan or conceptual drawing, budget spreadsheet, letters of support, and a W-9 form. Selected projects must be completed within 28 months of receiving funding. Additionally, awardees must provide signage at the project site acknowledging the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation’s contribution and schedule a site visit upon project completion.

For questions regarding the CPR Grant, applicants can contact Caroline Weiler, Program Manager, at cweiler@utah.gov. More information and application materials are available at recreation.utah.gov/grants.