The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (VTFPR) has awarded $586,764 to fifteen significant trail projects. This funding, available through state and federal funds in the Recreational Trails Program (RTP), will go towards maintaining and building public trails all over Vermont.
“This is truly a banner year for this program,” said VTFPR Commissioner Michael Snyder. “We were able to fund some excellent and diverse projects all over the state. The health, economic and social benefits of trails are well-documented and our department is proud to support these community-based efforts.”
The goal of the Recreational Trails Program is to provide grants to develop and maintain a wide variety of recreational trails for public use throughout Vermont. This year’s round of grants will go toward:
• Waterbury Area Trails Alliance (WATA): Perry Hill Campfire mountain bike/pedestrian trail improvement project (Waterbury, VT)
• Northwoods Stewardship Center: Wheeler Mountain pedestrian trail relocation project (Sutton, VT)
• Friends of Haystack: Haystack Mountain pedestrian trail improvements (Pawlet, VT)
• Green Mountain Club: Taft Lodge, Butler Lodge and Twin Brooks Tenting Area Repairs and Improvements (Underhill/Stowe, VT)
• Vermont Association of Snow Travelers: Statewide Snowmobile Trail System Grooming
• Town of Dorset: New pedestrian trail construction to the Gilbert Lookout at Owls Head Peak
• Sports Trails of the Ascutney Basin: Ascutney mountain bike/pedestrian Trails System Maintenance (West Windsor Town Forest)
• Rochester Area Sports Trails Alliance: Construction of a 3-mile pedestrian/mountain biking Wellness Trail Network (Rochester Ranger Station, USFS)
• Town of Plainfield: Development of two pedestrian trailhead parking areas & two new trailhead kiosks
• Town of Northfield: Trail restoration work to the lower section of Paine Mountain pedestrian trail
• White River Partnership: White River Trails Map & Guide to Hiking, Paddling, and Canoeing trails in the White River Watershed area
• Town of Killington and USFS: 2 miles of new beginner & intermediate pedestrian/mountain bike trails of a 15-mile multi-level mountain bike trail system planned in Killington on Green Mountain National Forest
• Green Mountain Audubon Center: Trail restoration, new kiosks & signs for the Audubon's pedestrian trail network
• Town of Bennington: New universally accessible/pedestrian 700-foot boardwalk
• Mad River Riders: Construction of two new pedestrian/mountain bike trails in Howe Block of Camel’s Hump SF (Evolution and Clinic Connector Trails)
Next year’s grant round will begin with pre-applications due in Fall of 2016. Full applications are due in February 2017. For more information on the Recreational Trails Program, please contact Sherry Winnie, RTP Administrator at sherry.winnie@vermont.gov or 802-760-8450.