Oregon Parks and Rec seeks feedback on proposed grant program updates

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A new Rule Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet Monday, April 13th, to review proposed updates to the County Opportunity Grant Program.

The County Opportunity Grant Program provides financial assistance to counties for the acquisition, development, rehabilitation, and planning of park areas that include camping facilities. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is proposing these updates to improve administrative clarity and ensure the program remains consistent with related state and federal grant initiatives.

The RAC includes representatives from local governments and recreation providers. These members possess professional experience in park and recreation planning, development, and management. During the meeting, committee members will provide feedback on draft rule changes before the department moves forward with the rule-making process.

The proposed updates involve formalizing administrative processes and updating program definitions. The changes also aim to clarify grant application requirements and scoring criteria while increasing administrative flexibility for the program. These adjustments are intended to reflect modern practices without altering the core purpose or structure of the grant program.

The proposal also introduces an emergency procedure rule and a conversion rule. These additions seek to establish long-term stewardship requirements. According to the department, these new rules will align the County Opportunity Grant Program with other state and federal grant programs managed by the agency.

Following the committee meeting, staff will incorporate the feedback into draft rules and open them for a public comment period. After the public comment phase and a hearing, staff will present the proposed rules to the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission for consideration of adoption.

The meeting will take place from 2-4 p.m. and the public can watch the livestream on the OPRD Director’s Office channel on YouTube. A recording will be available after the meeting.