The Recreational Trails Program provides annual funding to Vermont communities for the development and restoration of public recreational trails.
Donor Name: Vermont Department of Forest, Parks and Recreation
State: Vermont
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant | Reimbursement
Deadline: 12/06/2024
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
Recreational Trails Program grants to local communities and non-profit organizations throughout Vermont are awarded for recreational trail projects for their contribution to livability and connection of people to place.
All projects funded are to help achieve the program’s goals to:
- Strengthen the quality, extent, and resilience of existing outdoor recreation resources.
- Create and support trails that welcome all who live and visit Vermont and allow them to heal, learn, grow, and live their lives fully.
- Promote stewardship of outdoor recreation resources and enhance both trail user experiences and environmental quality.
- Encourage all trail enthusiasts to work together to provide a wide variety of recreational trail opportunities that fulfill community needs.
Funding Information
- In the 2025 grant round, they anticipate awarding approximately $500,000 to maintain and build trails across the state of Vermont.
- $50,000 maximum. Recommended $7,500 minimum – 20% match required
- RTP is a reimbursement program, and grantees must be capable of financing the project and (after a grant agreement is fully executed) first paying for expenditures and then submitting a request to the State for reimbursement using the required documentation. Applicants must commit to a minimum 20% match (20% of the total estimated project cost).
Project Eligibility
This year, RTP will offer two tracks: a Standard RTP Track and a Flood Recovery Track.
- For the Standard RTP Track, eligible projects include:
- Maintenance/restoration of existing trails
- Construction of new trails, with certain limitations for projects on federal lands
- Development and rehabilitation of trailside and trailhead amenities, facilities, and parking areas (i.e., signage, kiosks, composting toilets, recycling receptacles, or trail structures along the trail, directly associated with the trail)
- Land Acquisitions: Acquisition of trail easements or fee simple title to property with trails or recreational trail corridors
- Educational projects
- Projects that will be implemented July 14, 2025 – December 31, 2026.
- For the Flood Recovery Track, eligible projects include:
- Construction projects directly related to addressing trail-related damage from the 2024 flooding.
- Projects must be completed July 10, 2024- January 31, 2025.
Eligibility Requirements
All projects funded should help achieve the program’s goal of developing and maintaining trails in proximity to all who live in and visit Vermont. Furthermore, all projects are required to help achieve the goals, objectives, and priorities found in Vermont’s Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). Federal legislation mandates that RTP funds be allocated across three categories: 30% for non-motorized trail uses, 30% for motorized trail uses, and 40% for multi-use/diversified trail uses.
Who is eligible to apply for RTP grants:
- Municipalities (cities, towns, counties, etc.)
- Non-profit organizations
- State or Federal government agencies, other governmental entities (district or local authorities), or tribal governments.
For more information, visit VDFPR.
