Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant

The Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant (UORG), administered by the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation (DOR), provides funding to support the development and restoration of outdoor recreation infrastructure across Utah. The grant aims to improve access to outdoor activities, enhance community connectivity, and bolster economic benefits through recreation and tourism. The 2025 grant cycle runs from January 13, 9 a.m. to March 17, 5 p.m., and offers multiple funding tiers to accommodate various project sizes and scopes.

There are five grant tiers available under UORG in 2025: Regional Asset Tier, Tier 1, Mini, Recreation Restoration Infrastructure (RRI), and the new Community Parks and Recreation (CPR) grant. The Regional Asset Tier funds large-scale projects with a regional impact, requiring a total project value of at least $3 million. Tier 1 supports new recreation infrastructure development, while the Mini Grant is for smaller-scale projects. The RRI grant is dedicated to the restoration and repair of existing high-use recreation infrastructure on public lands. The newly introduced Community Parks and Recreation (CPR) grant supports traditional community park infrastructure, including playgrounds, sports fields, and pools.

Award amounts vary by category, with the Regional Asset Tier offering up to $1 million, Tier 1 ranging from $30,001 to $500,000, Mini grants from $5,000 to $30,000, RRI grants up to $250,000, and CPR grants between $5,000 and $200,000. All grants require a matching contribution, with a county-based sliding scale for most categories and a mandatory 1:1 match for urban counties under the Regional Asset Tier. Applicants facing financial barriers may request a reduced match, with a minimum of 20% required for all categories. Additionally, up to 25% of the matching contribution can be allocated to pre-build costs such as design, planning, feasibility studies, and engineering.

Eligible applicants include cities, counties, state and federal agencies, tribal governments, and public educational institutions that allow public access. Projects must focus on permanent outdoor recreation infrastructure, including trails, water-based recreation, adaptive recreation, and various outdoor adventure facilities. Funding cannot be used for private businesses, indoor recreation, general maintenance, or land acquisition.

The evaluation process considers community need, economic impact, recreational value, accessibility improvements, and budget justification. The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Advisory Committee (ORIAC), composed of experts from various recreation sectors, scores applications. Regional Asset Tier applicants must deliver a 10-minute presentation before the committee. Award notifications are expected by mid-May, with contracts issued shortly thereafter. Recipients must complete their projects within 28 months and comply with attribution signage requirements for certain grants.

Applicants must submit an online application at recreation.utah.gov/grants and provide a location map, site plan, budget spreadsheet, letters of support, and a W-9 form. The application portal allows users to save progress, and drafts should be prepared separately to avoid formatting issues. Additional funding opportunities, planning assistance, and technical support are available to applicants through the Division of Outdoor Recreation.

For further details, applicants can contact Emily Meadows (emeadows@utah.gov) for UORG & RRI grants, Caroline Weiler (cweiler@utah.gov) for the CPR Grant, or Patrick Morrison (patrickmorrison@utah.gov), the Recreation Program Director.