Vermont Governor Douglas Announces Recreation Trails Grants

Nearly $600,000 will fund 24 projects across Vermont

May 12, 2009 -- Montpelier, Vt. – Vermont Governor Jim Douglas today announced that the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation is funding 24 trail projects across the state with $568,170 from Vermont’s Recreation Trails Program.

Article continues below...

Vermont’s Recreational Trails Program is a matching grant program of the federal Highway Administration for the acquisition, development, rehabilitation and maintenance of trails, and trail-related facilities, for non-motorized, motorized, multiple-use or compatible recreational trail use.

"These grants provide opportunities for Vermonters to spend more time outdoors on our trails and they encourage outdoor activity and healthy living,” said Governor Douglas. “In addition, these projects encourage economic growth by improving access to public lands and waters and support both local tourism and recreation businesses.”

Recreation Trails Program funds have been authorized through the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy of Users, and are appropriated to states through the state transportation departments and natural resource agencies in cooperation with citizen advisory committees and a network of organizations and communities.

“Recreation Trails Program projects are investments in vital infrastructure that promote healthy communities, healthy people and a healthy economy,” the Governor added. The 24 projects being funded include:

· VT Association of Snow Travelers, winter grooming maintenance, $282,980 · Berlin Conservation Commission; Irish Hill Trails restoration, $5,422 · Northfield Paine Mountain. trail restoration and trailside amenity reconstruction, $7,100 · Pine Hill Park, in Rutland, trail maintenance and trail skills training project, $3,855 · Moosalamoo Association North Branch Trail in Addison County, Robert Frost Interpretive Trail and Chandler Ridge Trail reconstruction, $19,150 · Vermont Youth Conservation Corps Training Center, Richmond, trails construction , $11,280 · Green Mountain Club, 1.2 miles Long Trail Reconstruction in northwestern Vermont, $18,905 · Cross Vermont Trail Association, U-32 School in East Montpelier, Forest Winooski River Trails, $19,881 · Climbing Resource Access Group of Vermont: Upper West Bolton Cliff acquisition, $10, 934 · Local Motion Trail Finder expansion, $25, 000 (Orange, Windsor, Washington counties and Rutland) · Moretown Town Forest trail development, $19,760 · Catamount Trail Association Relocation in Coolidge State Forest, Plymouth, $17,673 · Chittenden School East Creek Trails construction, $20,000 · Millstone Trails Association Connector Trails in Barre Town, Project Phase II, $19,500 · Winooski Valley Park District’s Colchester Pond north end rock work, $6,400 · Woodstock Billings Park Commission Faulkner Trail Restoration Plan, $7,000 · Shaftsbury’s Linda Tilgner Memorial Nature Trail Reconstruction, $12,223 · NorthWoods Stewardship Center, East Charleston, Tripp Hill Recreation Management Plan, $4,500 · NorthWoods Stewardship Center’s Connecticut River Canoe Trail Guide, $6,980 · Calais Ellis-Bruce Trail Construction, $6,865 · Hartford’s Kilowatt Trail system linking North and South Park, $19,257 · St. Albans Aldis Hill Playground Trust’s trail reconstruction, $18,505 · VT Trails & Greenways Council statewide educational outreach grant, $10,000

Project sponsors may receive grants up to 80 percent of their total project cost and may leverage funds with cash, donations, in-kind support, or other nonfederal funds. Work for these projects is primarily done by youth corps, volunteers, and small businesses.

Source: Vermont Governor