LOGAN — Two Northern Utah outdoor recreation projects have been awarded a combined $255,000 through the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation’s 2026 Outdoor Recreation Planning Assistance (ORPA) grant program.
The grants are part of a statewide $2.3 million investment supporting 24 recreation planning projects designed to help communities improve outdoor access, plan future recreation opportunities and strengthen local recreation economies.
In Cache County, the Cache Trails Alliance received a $140,000 grant to develop the Green Canyon Recreation Plan. The master planning project has an estimated total cost of $140,000, with the state grant covering the full amount.
In neighboring Rich County, the Rich County Trails Committee was awarded $115,000 to complete environmental planning and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analyses for the Eden Canyon and Laketown Summit trail and trailhead project. The project carries a total estimated cost of $126,500.
The Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation said the ORPA program is intended to help communities establish the planning needed to support sustainable outdoor recreation development by identifying recreation needs, prioritizing investments and creating long-term management strategies.
“Strong recreation opportunities start with strong planning,” said Emily Meadows, statewide recreation planning coordinator for the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation. “These projects will help communities better understand their recreation assets, engage residents and stakeholders and create a roadmap for future investments that benefit both residents and visitors.”
According to the division, this year’s awards support a variety of planning efforts statewide, including recreation master plans, trail alignment studies, feasibility studies, engineering and site design, environmental planning, economic studies and community engagement initiatives.
Many of the funded projects focus on developing new trail connections and comprehensive recreation master plans that will guide future infrastructure investments while improving accessibility and supporting local economies.
The ORPA program began as a technical assistance initiative through Division staff and expanded in 2025 to include direct grant funding. The grants do not require a local financial match, reducing barriers for rural and underserved communities seeking professional planning services.
“Many communities recognize the value of outdoor recreation but may not have the resources to invest in planning on their own,” Meadows said. “ORPA helps bridge that gap by giving local leaders the tools and information they need to make informed decisions and build recreation opportunities that serve their communities for years to come.”
Statewide, the 24 projects received a total of $2.3 million in grant funding to support approximately $3.56 million in recreation planning efforts.