State officials today announced the award of $6 million in grants through the federal Recreational Trails Program to 38 local governments in 35 North Carolina counties for trails projects.
The matching grants, recommended by the North Carolina Trails Committee, will help fund healthful recreation opportunities for hikers, cyclists, paddlers, equestrians and off-highway vehicle (OHV) users throughout the state and will promote natural resource tourism.
"North Carolina is known for its excellent trails throughout the state for a variety of trail enthusiasts," said Susan Kluttz, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. "I am thrilled to continue to see this program grow and thrive."
The Recreational Trails Program is administered by the Division of Parks and Recreation of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, with Federal Highways Administration funding routed through the N.C. Division of Transportation. Since 1999, North Carolina has been awarded more than $28 million for sustainable trail projects. These grants, combined with in-kind services and matching funds, have resulted in more than $58 million applied to local trail and greenway projects.
Due to changes in the federal funding cycle, grant awards for two fiscal years were concurrent. For fiscal year 2015 funding, the program received 38 grant requests totaling $3.1 million, and the North Carolina Trails Committee recommended awards for 20 projects totaling $1.6 million. For fiscal year 2016 funding, the program received 61 grant requests totaling $4.9 million, and the trails committee recommended awards for 18 projects totaling $1.5 million.
The local government, agencies and trails groups receiving grants in the most recent cycle are:
- Blue Ridge Conservancy, Glen Burney Trail, $6,000
- City of Fayetteville, Blount's Creek Trail, $75,000
- City of Goldsboro, Stoney Creek Greenway, $92,400
- City of Rocky Mount, Tar River Greenway, $100,000
- Crowders Mountain State Park, Lake ADA Trail, $100,000
- Raven Rock State Park, Mountain Bike Loops, Phase 2, $100,000
- South Mountains State Park, Visitor Center Connector, $100,000
- Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, Neusiok Trail Relocation $15,708
- Guilford County, Company Mill Preserve, $100,000
- Surry County, Mountains-to-Sea Trail, Phase 1, $100,000
- Town of Carrboro, Morgan Creek Greenway, Phase 2, $100,000
- Town of Cramerton, South Fork Corridor Trailhead, $100,000
- USDA Forest Service/Uwharrie, Wood Run Mountain Bike Trail, $21,470
- USDA Forest Service/Croatan, Flanners Bike Trail, $68,000
- USDA Forest Servcie/Pisgah, Ivestor Gap/Graveyard Ridge, $100,000
- USDA Forest Service/Cheoah, Fontana Bike Trail, $100,000
- USDA Forest Service/Nantahala, Backwell Gap Horse Trail, $50,000
- SORBA/Pisgah, Big Laurel Connector, $55,440
- Town of Ahoskie, Mitchell Park Nature Trail, $100,000
- Carvers Creek State Park, Sandhills Multiuse Trail, $100,000
- Alamance County, Haw River Trail Saxapahaw Section, $84,000
- Brushy Mountain Cyclist Club, Warrior Creek Project, $61,443
- Burke County, Fonta Flora Loop Connector, $70,000
- Grandfather Mountain State Park, Profile Trail Improvements, $100,000
- NC Division of Parks and Recreation, High Efficiency Trail Assessment, $23,370
- NC High Peaks Trails Assoc., Mount Mitchell Trail Rehabilitation, $60,000
- Town of Mooresville, Mazeppa Mountain Bike Park, $99,250
- Umstead Coalition, Cedar Ridge Multiuse Trail, $100,000
- USDA Forest Service/Appalachian, South Toe Trailhead, $100,000
- USDA Forest Service/Uwharrie, Access Roads and Trailhead Maintenance, $100,000
- USDA Forest Service/Uwharrie, Badin Lake Motorized Trail Maintenance, $100,000
- USDA Forest Service/Uwharrie, Lakeview Trail Reroute, $100,000
- USDA Forest Service/Uwharrie, Uwharrie National Recreation Trail, $47,500
- USDA Forest Service/Wayehutta, Wayehutta OHV Trail Maintenance, $100,000
- City of Randleman, Deep River Greenway, $100,000
- Davidson County Tourism-Recreation Partnership, Daniel Boone Heritage Canoe Access, $48,750
- Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Overnight Site Hazard Mitigation, $90,000