SALT LAKE CITY — A $500,000 grant toward the construction of nearly 25 miles of new bike trail east of Zion National Park highlighted the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation’s seventh annual outdoors grant.
However, that was just the start. The agency last week finalized the 98 other projects set to receive another $7.1 million in grant spending.
The complete list of projects, which covers projects across 23 of Utah’s 29 counties, is expected to cost $54.4 million, with other funding covering the remaining costs. The projects include everything from the new bike trail in Kane County near Zion National Park to dock extensions at the Great Salt Lake to even outdoor-themed public education projects.
At 99 total projects and nearly $7.6 million in grants, 2021 is now the largest cycle in Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant’s brief history. The Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation, which is a part of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, began distributing money for outdoor recreation projects back in 2015; it distributed nearly $6 million toward 59 projects last year.
Money from the grants usually comes from the state transient room tax, which is collected when people book hotels or other lodging; however, the Utah Legislature approved $4 million in one-time additional spending toward the grant in 2021.
The increase in grant funds came as recreation, especially on state and local-managed public lands, experienced a large uptick last year. Pitt Grewe, director of the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation, called the rise in the use of Utah’s trails and campgrounds in 2020 “mind-blowing.”
“Communities are seeing the need to renovate decades-old trails or build new ones after seeing the demand increasing from both their residents and tourists,” he said, in a statement Tuesday. “We’re happy to award these matching funds to enable cities, towns, counties and nonprofits across Utah to invest in the outdoor recreation projects for which their residents are asking. The grants will enable communities to build a wide range of projects from trails and fishing piers to archery ranges for the enjoyment of both locals and visitors.”
Dan Hemmert, executive director for the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, which oversees the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation, said outdoor recreation opportunities are a key component to the state’s quality of life.
It’s a major reason that the grant program was started. The point of the program is to better help fund outdoors-related infrastructure projects.
“The continued investment provided by the Office of Outdoor Recreation’s grant programs in outdoor recreation infrastructure will have lasting effects on the health and strength of its residents, businesses and the economy,” Hemmert said.
Note: The organizations that received the grant and the county of the project are in parentheses.
Regional Asset Tier grants
These are grants for large-scale projects with a value over $2 million total. The maximum allotted for a regional asset grant is $500,000.
Phase II: Establishing a World-Class Mountain Bike Trail System (Zion National Park Forever Project — Kane County): $500,000
Pahvant Mtn. Bike Trail System – Phase 3 (Richfield City Trails Committee — Sevier County): $333,070
Bowery Haven Marina Renovation at Fish Lake (Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, Sevier Chapter — Sevier County): $300,000
Provo River Trail 2300 North improvements (Provo City Parks and Recreation — Utah County): $300,000
Jordan River Parkway — Millcreek extension (Millcreek City — Salt Lake County): $250,000
Logan River Blue Trail: 600 South/Mendon Road Access (Logan City — Cache County): $201,201
American Fork Boat Harbor (American Fork City — Utah County): $150,000
Juniper Canyon Recreation Area Phase 1 (Herriman City — Salt Lake County): $150,000
Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant: Tier 1
These are grants for new outdoor recreation infrastructure projects that “(help) communities build recreation amenities that support local economic development,” according to the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. The maximum allotted in this category is $150,000.
Bryce Canyon City Ice Ribbon (Bryce Canyon Recreation Association — Garfield County): $150,000
Buckskin Hills Ski and Snow Tubing Hill (Uintah County Travel & Tourism — Uintah County): $150,000
Cottonwood Creek Trail (Roosevelt City Corporation — Duchesne County): $150,000
Ferron City’s Adventure Hub, phase two (Ferron City — Emery County): $150,000
Grand County Colorado River Pathway (Grand County): $150,000
Homestead Trail Phase I (Midway City — Wasatch County): $150,000
Interpretive Greeting Site at Bridal Veil Falls (Utah Open Lands — Utah County): $150,000
Ivins City Old Highway 91 Shared Use Trail Connection (Ivins City Parks and Recreation — Washington County): $150,000
Kanab Archery Complex (Kanab City Recreation — Kane County): $150,000
Mt. Pleasant Trails System and Amenities Project (Mt. Pleasant City — Sanpete County): $150,000
Salina City Bike/Walking Path (Salina City Corporation — Sevier County): $150,000
Sheep Bridge Nature Preserve near Zion-Outdoor Rec Infrastructure (The Nature Conservancy — Kane County): $150,000
Sunrise Meadows Bike Park (Saratoga Springs City — Utah County): $150,000
Tooele City – England Acres Paved Recreation Trail (Tooele City — Tooele County): $150,000
Wasatch Boulevard Shared Trailhead and Nature Park (Cottonwood Heights City — Salt Lake County): $150,000
Pine Valley Ranger District Trail Networks: Phase I (Trails Utah — Washington County): $110,000
Trippin’ to Tropic (Garfield County School District — Garfield County): $108,500
Bonneville Shoreline Trail, Fruit Heights (City of Fruit Heights — Davis County): $103,953
These are similar to “Tier 1” grants but smaller projects. The maximum allotted in this category is $10,000.
Crosstown Trail Signs, A Pathway through West Valley City (West Valley City Parks & Recreation — Salt Lake County): $10,000
Farr West City Neighborhood Street Bikeways (Farr West City Trails & Active Transportation — Weber County): $10,000
Herriman Trail Safety Improvements (Herriman City — Salt Lake County): $10,000
Jensen Nature Park Shoreline Reimagination (Syracuse City Parks & Recreation — Davis County): $10,000
Millcreek City Center Bike Infrastructure (Millcreek City — Salt Lake County): $10,000
North Logan Bonneville Shoreline Trail Extension (North Logan City — Cache County): $10,000
Winter Ski Trail (Payson City Recreation — Utah County): $10,000
Woodland Hills Park and Trail Enhancements (Woodlands Hills Outdoors — Utah County): $10,000
Ephraim City Disc Golf Course Project (Ephraim City — Sanpete County): $9,800
Active Learning for All on the Coal Creek Trail (Southern Utah University — Iron County): $6,542.64
Piute County 4-H Shooting Range (Piute County 4-H / USU Extension Service — Piute County): $5,000
Helper City Solar Trail (Helper City — Carbon County): $4,870
Hyde Park Canyon Loop Trail & Amenity Construction (Cache County): $3,724.62
Wasatch Mountain State Park Trails – 7 Bicycle Repair Stations (Wasatch Community Foundation — Wasatch County): $3,535.83
Personal Watercraft Dock Extension (Great Salt Lake Rowing — Salt Lake County): $2,900
Hurricave Platform and Trail Construction (Southern Utah Climbers Alliance — Washington County): $2,500
The Long-Bow Archery Range at American West Heritage Center (American West Heritage Center — Cache County): $2,000
Recreation Restoration Infrastructure grants
These funds are awarded to projects that restore “high-use and high-priority trails” or replace other recreation infrastructure on public lands, according to economic development officials. Grants can range between $5,000 and $150,000.
Minersville Lake Campground Restoration Project (Beaver County): $150,000