SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation has awarded $1.5 million in grants to support 21 outdoor recreation planning projects in 13 counties, officials announced Monday.
The funding comes from the newly relaunched Outdoor Recreation Planning Assistance (ORPA) grant program, which is designed to help communities—especially rural and underserved areas—develop strategic outdoor recreation plans. The program is funded by a one-time allocation from the Utah Outdoor Adventure Commission.
“This first cycle of ORPA funding was an incredible success,” said Emily Meadows, the statewide recreation planning coordinator for the Division of Outdoor Recreation. “We received 41 eligible applications requesting more than $5.5 million, clearly demonstrating a strong demand for local recreation planning across Utah.”
The selected projects include recreation master plans, feasibility studies, community engagement and needs assessments, impact fee studies and conceptual site designs. The grants do not require a local financial match, a key move by the state to encourage broader participation among smaller communities.
Among the local recipients, Cache County was awarded $200,000 for a site master plan, Logan City received $41,200 for a feasibility study and wayfinding signage, and the Rich County Trails Committee was awarded $123,300 for a master plan.
“One of our key goals was to make this opportunity accessible to all, especially smaller and rural communities,” Meadows said. “Good planning is foundational, and we want every community to have the chance to create a thoughtful vision for outdoor recreation.”
The full list of funded projects is available at recreation.utah.gov/grants/planning-assistance.