Northern Utah communities and organizations benefit from record $23 million in outdoor recreation grants

SALT LAKE CITY — In a historic milestone for public lands and local communities, the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation (DOR) has awarded a record $23.2 million in grants to fund 142 outdoor recreation projects across every one of the state’s 29 counties.

“This is a landmark year for outdoor recreation in Utah,” said Jason Curry, director of DOR. “These grants are more than just investments in recreation; they're investments in community health, mental health, rural economies and long-term stewardship of Utah’s lands.”

The funding—dispersed through the Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant (UORG), Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation (OHVR) Grant, and Recreational Trails Program (RTP)—is the largest combined award in the program’s history:

• UORG: $17.9 million for 84 projects

• OHVR: $3.3 million for 32 projects

• RTP: $2 million for 26 projects

In Cache County, multiple projects received support, including:

• Franklin Basin Parking Lot Expansion in Logan Canyon – $617,877 to the Utah Snowmobile Association to improve access for winter recreation.

• Mendon City Legacy Park (Phase 1) – $200,000 to support development of a new community park.

• Cache Valley Hospital and Greenville Elementary Canal Trail – $25,000 to Cache County for trail development.

• Paradise South Park Baseball Field – $61,625 to Paradise to upgrade local sports facilities.

• Winter trail grooming – $40,720 to Nordic United to enhance skiing and snowshoe access in Green Canyon, Smithfield Canyon and near Beaver Mountain Ski Resort.

• Statewide Trails Training Program – $52,368 to Utah State University for educational outreach and training.

Projects receiving funding in Box Elder County include:

• Mountain View Bike Park (Phase 1) – $235,000 to Perry City to launch construction of a new bike park designed for youth and families.

• Visitor Center Optical Viewer Binoculars – $10,700 to Friends of the Bear River Bird Refuge to improve wildlife viewing at the popular wetlands sanctuary.

Projects in Rich County receiving grants include:

• Henry Earley Park Playground – $75,387 to Laketown for new playground equipment.

• OHV Incident Response Equipment – $47,500 to Rich County Search and Rescue for safety and emergency response improvements.

In total, over $1.3 million in grants were allocated to projects in Cache, Box Elder and Rich counties.

Since 2015, the Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant program has awarded more than $83 million to enhance access to parks, trails, and open spaces. The OHVR program, launched in 2020, has now delivered over $19 million for motorized recreation. RTP, funded through federal transportation dollars, continues to support vital trail networks across Utah.

“This year we saw a tremendous increase not only in applications but in the quality and scope of projects submitted,” said Curry. “Utahns are clearly passionate about their public lands and outdoor access.”

For a full list of 2025 grant recipients, visit recreation.utah.gov/grants.