California Rural Recreation and Tourism Program

Project officers by county

916.653.7423

The Rural Recreation and Tourism (RRT) Program provides grants for acquisition and development projects to create new recreational opportunities in rural communities of California that have a lack of outdoor recreation infrastructure. Projects that support both economic and health-related goals for residential recreation and will attract out-of-town visitors will be given priority.

Projects may include, but are not limited to:

• Accessible trails and bikeways
• Sports complexes
• Visitor centers that interpret a significant historic or natural resource
• Amphitheaters that support performing arts and other cultural recreation attractions
• Campgrounds
• Access to waterways
• Aquatic centers
• Demonstration gardens
• Dog parks
• Disc golf
• Public art
• Skate parks
• Jogging, walking, par course, and/or running tracks
• Playgrounds

Eligible applicants in California include:

• Cities
• Counties
• Districts, such as:
  • Recreation and park districts
  • Public utility districts
  • Community service districts
  • Memorial districts
  • Water districts

Applicant must either:

• Be in a county with a population below 500,000 people, and, in a city/town/census designated place that has a population below 50,000 people
• Be in a county with a population below 500,000 people, and, in a city/town/census designated place that has a population below 80,000 people, provided that the county has adopted state planning priorities

Award ceiling: $3,000,000
Award floor: $200,000
Project period: Up to 3 years
Estimated total program funding: $23,125,000

Links to additional guidance, application instructions, and the online application portal are available on the program website.

Applicant assistance:

• Webinar recordings
• Video tour of the online application system
• Best practices for planning a competitive project
• Project administration guide