New UW Guide Gives Wyoming Communities Practical Tools to Fund Recreation Infrastructure

The Jay Kemmerer WORTH Institute at the University of Wyoming, in collaboration with the UW College of Law’s Gina Guy Center for Land and Water Law, has released a new resource to help Wyoming communities identify and implement sustainable funding strategies for recreation infrastructure.

Titled “Funding Recreation in Wyoming Communities: A Guide to Revenue Mechanisms, Partnerships and Financing Tools for Local Governments,” the report offers a comprehensive overview of the legal and financial tools available to counties, municipalities and school districts seeking to develop and maintain recreation assets across the state.

Recreation infrastructure, including trails, parks, aquatic centers and community facilities, plays a critical role in supporting quality of life, economic vitality and community health. However, funding these assets remains a persistent challenge for many Wyoming communities. This guide aims to bridge that gap by translating statutory frameworks into actionable strategies.

“This guide was designed to be both practical and accessible,” says Emily Wangen, the author of the report and a law student in the J.D./M.A. in environment and natural resources dual-degree program at UW. “Local leaders and community members are often aware that funding tools exist, but navigating the legal framework can be complex. We wanted to create a resource that clearly outlines what’s available and how communities across Wyoming are already using these tools successfully.”

The report organizes funding strategies into several key categories, including:

-- Excise taxes, such as special purpose excise taxes, which can fund major capital projects with voter approval.

-- Property tax mechanisms, including mill levies and public recreation districts.

-- Joint-powers agreements, enabling cost-sharing and regional collaboration.

-- Special districts, particularly for unincorporated communities.

-- Bonding authority, to finance large-scale infrastructure investments.

-- State and federal grant programs, including the Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Trust Fund and Recreational Trails Program.

Each section includes relevant Wyoming statutes and real-world examples demonstrating how communities have applied these tools in practice.

“Wyoming communities are innovative and resourceful, but they often need clearer pathways to implement funding solutions,” says Dan McCoy, director of the Jay Kemmerer WORTH Institute. “By pairing legal context with on-the-ground examples, this guide helps communities move from concept to implementation.”

The report also highlights the growing importance of recreation infrastructure as both a community asset and an economic driver, particularly in rural areas seeking to diversify their economies and enhance livability.

“This is ultimately about empowering local decision-makers,” Wangen says. “Whether a community is building a trail system, maintaining a recreation center or planning future investments, there are tools available. They just need to be understood and applied effectively.”

The guide is part of the WORTH (Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality) Institute’s broader mission to support Wyoming communities through applied research, workforce development and extension services focused on outdoor recreation, tourism and hospitality.

Access the full report at https://doi.org/10.15786/wyoscholar/10159.