FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 7, 2016
DEP
ACCEPTING 2016 RECREATIONAL TRAILS PROGRAM GRANT APPLICATIONS
~Federal grant opportunity to enhance public outdoor recreation~
TALLAHASSEE,
Fla. – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection
will be accepting grant applications April 11-29 for the Recreational
Trails Program, which provides
competitive matching grant funds to renovate, develop or maintain recreational
motorized, nonmotorized and mixed-use trails and trailside facilities.
"DEP is pleased to partner with local communities in developing trail
projects that increase accessibility and provide outdoor opportunities for recreation,”
said Bryan Bradner, director of DEP’s Office of Operations. “This year, DEP
removed the maximum grant cap on motorized trail applications to encourage more
submissions to provide motorized boating trails and off-highway trail
opportunities around the state.”
The program
provides financial assistance to eligible government agencies and other organizations to develop public lands and recreational
trails.
For the 2016
grant cycle, project proposals may address the following recreational trail
needs:
- construction of new trails (with restrictions for new trails on federal
lands);
-
maintenance, restoration or renovation of existing trails and trail
linkages;
- development and rehabilitation of trailside and trailhead facilities,
including boat launches; and
- recreational trail linkages.
As part of the
U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, the
Recreational Trails Program contract agreements are for two years and grants
are provided on a 50:50, 60:40 or 80:20 (program/grantee) matching basis. The
department has $1.5 million available for motorized trail projects this year.
More information and application packets are available here.
| 
