Planning for Recreation Access
Forecasted
Planning for Recreation Access supports Washington communities with limited outdoor recreation opportunities by funding long-range and site-specific plans that guide investments in public recreation facilities.
Funder: Recreation and Conservation Office
Due Dates (Anticipated): July 2027 (Application) | September 2027 (Revised applications, final due date)
Funding Amounts: Up to $125,000 for long-range planning or $200,000 for site-specific planning; projects typically run 1½–2 years
Summary: Grants support outdoor recreation planning in Washington communities with limited access to outdoor opportunities.
Key Information: Planned facilities must be open to the public for recreation.
Description
Created by the Washington State Legislature and administered by the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO), Planning for Recreation Access helps underserved communities identify outdoor recreation needs, prioritize investments, and prepare projects for future funding. It focuses on racially diverse neighborhoods in dense urban areas, small rural communities, and applicants with limited recent experience receiving RCO recreation development grants.
The program funds long-range parks, recreation, and open space planning and site-specific planning for public outdoor recreation facilities. Work can include community engagement, feasibility studies, site plans, architectural and engineering design, environmental assessments, cultural resources surveys, and permitting. Planning is intended to bring community perspectives into decisions about recreation access and move promising facilities closer to development.
