The Recreational Trails Program provides federal funds to rehabilitate and maintain trails that provide a backcountry experience.
Donor Name: Reservation and Conservation Office
State: Washington
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 11/01/2022
Size of the Grant: $10,000, $150,000
Details:
Program Goals
RTP is a federal assistance program to help states provide and maintain recreational trails for both motorized and nonmotorized uses, including walking, hiking, bicycling, in-line skating, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and off-road motorized vehicle driving, including off-road motorcycling and all-terrain and four-wheel vehicle riding.
Each state develops its own procedures to solicit and select projects for funding in response to its recreational trail needs. In Washington State, the Recreation and Conservation Funding Board has chosen to use RTP money to reduce the backlog of deferred maintenance on recreational trails that provide a backcountry experience.
Categories
RCO offers two categories of RTP grants. General Category projects involve development, renovation, or maintenance of recreational trails. Education Category projects provide information, education, training, or outreach that benefit recreational trail users.
- Recreation and Conservation Funding Board
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Funding Priorities
The Recreation and Conservation Funding Board gives preference to projects that further specific goals of the following statewide strategic plans:
- Washington State Nonhighway and Off-road Vehicle Activities Plan
- Washington State Trails Plan
Washington State Recreation and Conservation Plan
This preference is shown in evaluation criteria that place a high priority on projects that excel by doing the following:
- Filling an established need.
- Adhering to high design standards.
- Reducing trail maintenance backlogs.
- Being ready to proceed and having widespread public support.
- Demonstrating sustainability and environmental stewardship
- Presenting a favorable benefit-cost ratio and appropriately estimating and explaining costs.
- Bringing a high proportion of non-government contributions and matching value to the project (cash, goods, services, etc.)
- Exhibiting compliance the Growth Management Act, when applicable.
Funding Information
Grant Amount General projects: $150,000 Education projects: $10,000 each year
Eligible Projects
- Development
- Development of trailside facilities, trailheads, and trail links for recreational trails.
- Maintenance
- Maintenance and restoration of trails, trailside facilities, and trailheads. Minor trail relocations.
- Education
- Programs to directly convey a safety or environmental protection message for recreational trails
Typical Projects
- Clearing overgrown brush and fallen trees from trails
- Repairing trail damage from floods and fires
- Replacing bridges and drainage structures
Criteria
- Local agencies
- Special purpose districts, such as park and recreation districts, public utility districts, and port districts. These districts must be legally authorized to develop, operate, and maintain recreational facilities.
- Native American tribes
- State agencies
- Federal agencies
- Trail-related, nonprofit organizations
For more information, visit Recreational Trails Program.
