The Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation (MOOR) seeks to promote Massachusetts as a great place to come play outside! We aim to make Massachusetts one of the most inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible places for outdoor recreation. Whether you are visiting or living here, discover all that Massachusetts has to offer.
Focus Areas
The Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation (MOOR) is guided by three pillars:
- Promote: Outdoor Recreation in Massachusetts. We want more visitors coming and playing in the state, and more residents staying and playing in the state.
- Include: Outdoor Recreation for All. We want Massachusetts to be one of the most welcoming, inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible places to recreate.
- Sustain: Promote restorative outdoor recreation research, principles, and practices. We want to grow our natural capital as we also work to grow our community and economic capital.
What is outdoor recreation in Massachusetts?

We support all kinds of outdoor recreation including, but not limited to, hunting, fishing, boating, hiking, trail running, mountain biking, snowmobiling, off-highway vehicle riding, horseback riding, swimming, skiing, climbing, sailing, paddling, bird-watching, star-gazing, etc.
Trails for All

The Trails for All initiative aims to create universally accessible trails, through intentional trail planning that removes barriers to access and brings the outdoors to individuals of all abilities via trail improvements such as gentle grades, stable surfaces, and inclusive signage in Massachusetts.
Outdoor Recreation Business Alliance
MOOR also seeks to help establish an Outdoor Recreation Business Alliance in Massachusetts to bring together the power of our outdoor businesses and amplify their voices.
Grants
Massachusetts Inclusive and Accessible Outdoor Recreation Events Grant Program
This grant program aims to increase access to outdoor recreational activities for low-income residents, communities of color, and people with disabilities.
For the purposes of this grant offering, outdoor recreation does not include field or court sports, even those that occur outdoors, or events that take place solely on paved road, such as road running races, or bike rides.
Learn more about MOOR Events Grants.
Massachusetts Regional Outdoor Recreational Asset Inventory Grants
Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation (MOOR) is offering grants of up to $60,000 to Regional Planning Agencies (RPAs) working in partnership with Regional Tourism Councils (RTCs) and other appropriate regional partners to develop Outdoor Recreational Asset Inventories based on the Berkshire model with the goal of promoting outdoor recreation at the regional level, and ultimately contributing to a statewide web platform for promoting Outdoor Recreation in Massachusetts.
Goals
The Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation (MOOR) in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs seeks to advance the state of information on Outdoor Recreational sites and assets to assist in outdoor recreation planning, marketing, promotion, and public information. Specifically, we seek to:
- Complete regional Outdoor Recreational Inventories, based on the Berkshires Outside model
- Create accurate site descriptions and images for recreational sites
- Strengthen regional collaboration among regional planning agencies and regional tourism councils
- Strengthen inter- and intra- regional collaboration
- Develop recreational asset inventory data for regional planning purposes
- Contribute accurate data to a statewide web platform for marketing Outdoor Recreation assets in Massachusetts.
The deadline for grant proposals is 5 p.m. February 21, 2025
To learn more about this grant opportunity, see the “Request for Responses” here.
Why is outdoor recreation valuable?
Economy: Outdoor Recreation plays a critical role in Massachusetts’ economy, adding $13 billion to our GDP and directly supporting 103, 600 jobs in 2023. Further investment will create jobs, sustain local communities, and boost tourism and retention.
Public Health: Outdoor Recreation improves both physical and mental health. Outdoor recreational opportunities are associated with a rise in physical activity. Recreating in a natural environment produces significant mental health benefits including lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression.
Environmental Justice: Access to outdoor recreation opportunities and spaces is an environmental equity issue.
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