Moab awards recreation tax grants, backs SkyWest for regional air service

Moab is pushing recreation tax dollars back into the places people actually use, with 19 local groups winning a share of $85,000 in the city’s latest RAP grant round. The awards came from the Recreation, Arts and Parks tax, a voter-approved 1% sales tax that can be spent only on recreation, arts, culture, and park-related projects.

The numbers show how tight the competition has become. The 2026 grant cycle drew 25 applications totaling about $232,000, but only $85,000 was available. That left six applicants without funding and underscored how many organizations are now leaning on the same pool for trail work, programming, and public amenities that serve both residents and the visitor economy.

Among the recipients were Grand County Running Club, Friends of the Anonymous Bike Park, and Moab Art Trails, all names that map directly onto the outdoor identity of the city. Those grants are not abstract line items. They help support the kinds of events, facilities, and creative spaces that shape what people see when they run, ride, or wander through town.

The city’s RAP structure also makes clear where the money goes. About 80% of the tax revenue is reserved for city projects, while 20% is distributed through the grant program. That split means the tax is doing more than topping off one-off community requests. It is helping sustain the parks, recreation assets, and cultural programming that make Moab feel like Moab to both locals and travelers.

The council also took a step with direct implications for access beyond town. Members approved a letter backing Grand County’s recommendation for SkyWest Airlines to be selected as the Essential Air Service carrier for Canyonlands Regional Airport. Officials stressed the importance of direct flights to Salt Lake City and Denver, a connection that matters for residents, tourism, and the wider regional economy.

That airport decision sits alongside another growth-related move the council made, advancing a sidewalk, curb, and gutter code amendment. Together, the actions pointed to the same pressure Moab faces every year: keeping pace with growth while still protecting the outdoor access, public spaces, and travel links that bring people here in the first place.