Outdoor Recreation Planning Assistance

The Outdoor Recreation Planning Assistance Program (ORPA) has previously offered technical assistance through Division of Outdoor Recreation (DOR) staff time. Thanks to continued support from the Outdoor Adventure Commission (OAC), this grant program received a one-time allocation of $2.5 million to fund planning assistance for 2026. This program is intended to help build capacity at the local level through engaging consulting services and utilizing the Division of Outdoor Recreation staff’s technical expertise.

Please review the 2026 ORPA Program Guide for more information and updates!

Ongoing Mini Consultations:

Mini-consultation meetings may include site visits or a series of meetings to help you think through your community’s next steps, connect you to planning or grant resources, or provide feedback on planning efforts or project goals.

To schedule a meeting, please book a virtual appointment here or contact Emily Meadows at [email protected].

Funding Amount:

Up to $200,000

Match:

No financial match is required. (*With the exception of detailed engineering and construction design)

Cycle Dates: Open now! April 6 - May 15, 2026.

Eligible Applicants:

Municipalities, counties, federal agencies, non-profits and tribal governments

Eligible Projects:

(All projects/services must be directly related to outdoor recreation.)

Feasibility/trail alignment studies
NEPA/environmental assessments
- Cultural surveys
- Biological surveys
Community outreach strategies and execution
Stakeholder/steering committee facilitation (process collaboration)
Plan development assistance (i.e. Master Trails Plan)
Wayfinding strategies and/or design
Conceptual trail & site design
Visitor use mitigation strategies
Mapping services
Funding strategies
Field data collection (trail assessments)
Land-use recommendations and scenarios
User conflict/trail etiquette strategies
Engineering services/construction design *Please review the ORPA program guide for more details.
Assistance scoping the project in preparation for procurement (i.e. request for proposals, request for quotes, etc).