In 2013, Utah became the first state to create an Office of Outdoor Recreation. Since then, the office has become a national leader working to broaden the economic value of Utah’s outdoors through collaboration with various business and community partners. In 2015, the office helped communities to build trails and other recreation infrastructure by awarding matching grants through a pilot program. Funding for the program increased the following year. Its success led to the Utah Legislature, creating a longer-term funding source to continue the grant program, now called the Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant.
Joe’s Valley is an iconic bouldering destination in Emery County, UT where little to no infrastructure existed, leading to concerns over environmental impacts and damage. The Access Fund worked alongside partners at Emery County, USFS, BLM and the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance, while also receiving a Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant (UORG), to initiate a sustainability and recreation improvement project for the climbing areas in Joe’s Valley. This initiative is a valuable project to the climbers in the area, as well as the Emery County towns and cities that are seeing the economic benefits of the area’s improvement.
Founded in 1985 and based in Park City, Utah, the National Ability Center (NAC) believes that individuals with disabilities should enjoy the full range of activities that life can offer and, through these experiences, gain the self-confidence, self-esteem and motivation necessary to become active participants in all aspects of community life. With support from the Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant (UORG), NAC was able to make improvements and increase the variety of adaptive elements on their challenger course to provide a greater range of experiences and attract more individuals of all abilities to this outdoor recreational activity. Their work continues to provide a model for how adaptive recreation can be supported.
The Trails Alliance of Southern Utah and the Bureau of Land Management, with support from a Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant (UORG), partnered to add 6 miles of quality trail to the Iron Hills Trail System in Cedar City, solidifying its role as a premier mountain biking destination in the state of Utah. With expanded recreation infrastructure and higher visitation, this trail system now supports riders of all skill levels, local mountain bike teams and clubs, and helps the local economy in Cedar City.
The project will enhance recreational opportunities and amenities in Utah’s communities
In 2021, UORG award amounts will range from $10,001-$150,000. For awards of $10,000 and less, please consider the UORG Mini-Grant, which funds $500-$10,000 for smaller projects and includes a more streamlined application process.
Please note, a Regional Asset Tier will be available in 2021. Regional Asset Tier UORG funding of $500,000 will be available for large outdoor recreation projects that will cost more than $2,000,000. The UORG Scoring Committee has discretion in the number of Regional Asset Tier projects and the awarded amount. The most competitive projects will focus on using UORG funds to support outdoor recreation elements rather than surrounding infrastructure, such as bathrooms or parking lots.
The 2021 UORG cycle will be open from January 20 to March 19, 2021. Make sure to sign-up for Utah Outdoors at the bottom of the page to receive email alerts and updates about the grant and our office.
Local or tribal governments or non-profits may apply. The built recreational infrastructure must provide an economic opportunity for the local area with the ability to increase visitation, boost local businesses and/or attract and retain residents.
The 2021 UORG Program Guide is a great resource to review and get ready to apply.
Friday, March 19, 2021 by 5 p.m. Mountain Time.
Given as a 50/50 match. Up to 25 percent of the total match may be an in-kind match.
Please note, the match component differs for a Regional Asset Tier grant; information regarding the Regional Asset Tier can be found on page 2 of the 2020 Program Guide.
Project must be complete within 24 months of date the contract is signed. Funding is given after the applicant’s spend. Up to 75 percent of the matched monies may be given before completion of project. Grant recipients will need to provide a project progress report twice a year until completion. Final funding contingent upon inspection of the completed project.
The Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation’s (OOR) sixth grant cycle of the Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant (UORG), has awarded almost $6 million in grant funding to 58 different outdoor recreation infrastructure projects throughout the state. This year marks the highest amount of grant funding given. These funds will create an estimated impact of over $42.83 million statewide, including grants, matching funds and private investments. The 2020 UORG cycle generated a 7-to-1 return-on-investment for state funds and awarded 64% of its funds to rural counties. To see all of the Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant projects mapped and summarized, check out our map.
2020 Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant Infrastructure Projects
Download RRI Recipients
Download UORG Recipients
2019 Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant Infrastructure Projects
2018 Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant Infrastructure Projects:
2017 Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant Infrastructure Projects:
2016 Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant Infrastructure Projects:
2016 Outdoor Recreation Youth Programs Grants:
The 2015 Pilot Program of the Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant (formerly known as “Waypoint“) recipients:
We’ve got answers. Here’s a selection of Frequently Asked Questions in response to inquiries on policies and specific aspects of our grant programs.
If you have questions that aren’t answered below, please email us. We will answer your questions by email and add them to this page as well. Contact Tara McKee (tmckee@utah.gov) or Patrick Morrison (patrickmorrison@utah.gov) with questions about the grants.
Who can apply? Municipalities, county governments, tribal governments or non-profit organizations that meet Utah code requirements are all eligible to apply for a Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant.
How much grant funding can we apply for? Various amounts of awards for grants are offered and will be given as matching funds between $1,000 and $150,000 in 2021. The larger grants will be more competitive as fewer of them will be given. Please note, a Regional Asset Tier will be available in 2021. Regional Asset Tier UORG funding of $500,000 will be available for large outdoor recreation projects that will cost more than $2,000,000. The UORG Scoring Committee has discretion in the number of Regional Asset Tier projects and the awarded amount. The most competitive projects will focus on using UORG funds to support outdoor recreation elements rather than surrounding infrastructure, such as bathrooms or parking lots.
Our city has a couple of great infrastructure projects we’d like to do. Can we send in more than one application?
Yes, but the review committees will be factoring in the geographic diversity of all grant projects. It is highly unlikely that the review committees will choose more than one infrastructure project from the same entity for the Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant. If your organization plans on submitting more than one application, please prioritize which one you would like to see funded among all the rest.
Please keep in mind we have three additional grants in 2021 which may be better suited to your community’s outdoor recreation needs:
The UORG Mini-Grant funds smaller outdoor recreation and trail projects and provides grants between $500 and $10,000. The application is shorter and more straightforward, but the eligibility requirements are similar.
The Recreation Restoration Infrastructure Grant (RRI) funds the restoration or rehabilitation of existing and developed recreation areas and trails so the public can safely access them.
The Utah Outdoor Classroom Grant funds permanent, built infrastructure that can support student learning and funds up to $10,000.
Our project is a large one and the final costs will be quite high. Can we apply to receive a second grant the following year or later to help us finish our project? The legislative intent of the grant funds is to provide funding to projects that will be completed. The ability to demonstrate a project is truly ready and will be completed as specified in your application is required. A possible exception would be a project for a trail segment within a large trail project with a long-term master plan. The trail segment that has been funded by our grant must be completed, accessible to the public, and able to be used on its own before an organization could apply for additional funding from the Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant to build another trail segment within a large trail system. Also, you may wish to note that much more funding will be available beginning in 2021, and make all the necessary preparation now to put together a very competitive grant proposal for next year.
We’ve never done a grant before. Can we get some help? Of course! We’d like to make resources available that will help you in the process of filling out the grant applications:
If you have a question about the eligibility of your project or a similar question, email tmckee@utah.gov or patrickmorrison@utah.gov and you will receive an answer to your questions in an email and on this page so that it is visible to the public.
When do we get our funding? The Outdoor Recreation Grant for infrastructure projects will be given as a post-completion reimbursement. Projects must be completed within 24 months of the date the contract is signed. Funding is given after the applicant’s spend. Up to 75% of the matched monies may be given before the completion of the project. Once all necessary documentation has been submitted, you can expect to receive the funding within 2-3 weeks. The final funding will be contingent upon inspection of the completed project.
What are the key criteria for how projects are evaluated? The grant applications have sections that have been given scoring values to allow fair evaluations. The infrastructure grants will be evaluated by the Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant Advisory Committee, which is comprised of knowledgeable experts from the outdoor recreation and economic development industries in Utah. Please see page 21 of the 2021 Program Guide for more information about the UORG Advisory Committee.
The infrastructure grants will be evaluated for: project readiness and a feasible schedule, community need and economic impact, recreational value, improved physical and recreational access, budget and project costs, and special considerations for area deficiencies.
Since we are a city who will be building and maintaining this infrastructure on our own property and are under the City and not County jurisdiction for such projects, must we have county approval and endorsement in order to apply, or would the City’s endorsement be OK to substitute in place of the county? Since you are under your City and not County jurisdiction for such projects, yes, in your case, it would be okay to get the City’s endorsement in lieu of the County’s endorsement.
Can we apply for funding for a Pickleball Court? Or Rodeo Grounds? Or Fairgrounds? Or soccer fields? The Utah Outdoor Recreation Grants are meant to fund outdoor recreation amenities and we’ve had to draw a line between outdoor recreational activities and recreational sports (the latter of which do not fall under the jurisdiction of the Office of Outdoor Recreation). Sports courts, athletic fields, rodeo grounds, and fairgrounds are ineligible infrastructure for the Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant.
The online application for infrastructure projects asks for two attachments that prove the project readiness, what exactly needs to be attached here? There can be several documents that show project readiness such as permits, conceptual drawings or engineered plans, environmental documentation, even documentation as to the status of pending permits is helpful. Submit whatever you have along those lines that are pertinent to your project. On the list of attachments, you are asked to provide two maps, one location map showing where it is located in the community and one recreation site map (or conceptual drawing) of the project site.
The UORG Mini-Grant funds smaller outdoor recreation and trail projects and provides grants between $500 and $10,000. The application is shorter and more straightforward, but the eligibility requirements are similar.
The Recreation Restoration Infrastructure Grant (RRI) funds the restoration or rehabilitation of existing and developed recreation areas and trails so the public can safely access them.
The Utah Outdoor Classroom Grant funds permanent, built infrastructure that can support student learning and funds up to $10,000.
