Recreation Ready Program
Recreation Ready provides training, technical assistance and funding to support Oregon outdoor recreation experiences.
Funds distributed in the 2025-2029 Recreation Ready cycle must contribute to the development and improvement of Oregon communities by means of the enhancement and expansion of the visitor industry. Projects must align with Travel Oregon’s mission and demonstrate the potential to:
- Attract overnight visitors
- Improve accessibility for people with disabilities
- Enhance community well-being
- Grow local economic opportunities
- Steward the natural environment
To apply to the program, applicants must first complete and submit a Letter of Intent form that will open for submissions on October 1, 2025, 2 p.m. PT and close October 30, 2025, 5 p.m. PT. Application information found here.
The Recreation Ready program includes two phases. Phase 1 is a nine-month planning process with technical assistance from Travel Oregon staff and consultants, helping communities refine early-stage concepts into strategic, actionable projects. Accessibility will be a core focus, guiding projects with inclusive planning so both the process and resulting infrastructure are welcoming to people with disabilities. Phase 1 includes developing a clear project vision, accessibility goals, engaging the project steering committee, gathering community input and creating a recommended Phase 2 action plan, budget and work plan. Projects that successfully complete Phase 1 will be assessed by Travel Oregon to determine eligibility to advance to Phase 2. Phase 2 applicants will be invited to apply up to $100,000 to support the project’s advancement over 16 months.
Eligible projects:
Must include the development of new outdoor recreation infrastructure or the improvement of existing outdoor recreation infrastructure. Ineligible projects include events, certifications, advertising/marketing campaigns and projects benefiting for-profit businesses.
Successful Recreation Ready program applicants:
- Projects should demonstrate a clear need for technical assistance to move toward implementation readiness. This need may be reflected in a project that is in the early stages of planning or has existed as a long-standing concept but has struggled to gain momentum due to challenges such as limited capacity, funding constraints, technical barriers or competing priorities.
- Projects must demonstrate community support. This may be reflected in letters of support; alignment with community plans or priorities such as a parks master plan or tourism strategy; or demonstrated public engagement through surveys, workshops or community meetings.
- Must have at least one project site identified. There may be more than one potential site identified. All sites must have the appropriate land managers overseeing those sites engaged in the project. Land managers will be required to be on the project steering committee.
