Extra $1 Million Available for Recreational Trail Program Grants

Recreational trail construction and maintenance efforts in Alaska could be bolstered by an additional $1 million this year, according to the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation (DPOR).

Under its Recreational Trails Program (RTP), the division typically offers grants of about $1.2 million a year for trail work in Alaska, says Director Ricky Gease.

Each $1 a grant recipient provides is matched by $9 from the Federal Highway Administration (FWHA). Eligible applicants include nonprofits; educational institutions; Native corporations or tribal governments; and local, state, and federal government agencies.

With additional FWHA money recently becoming available to the state, the division is currently accepting a second round of applications in 2021 for grants totaling approximately $1 million.

“This grant money will be doubly helpful in light of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Gease says. “Not only will it stimulate our economy with an additional $1 million dollars in spending, it will also support the trails so many Alaskans are using for relief from isolation and social distancing.”