Apply by March 29 for Recreational Trail Grants From DEEP

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is now accepting proposals for Connecticut’s National Recreational Trails Program Grants.  

The deadline for submissions is March 29, 2013.  For project guidance and to download the grant application, see www.ct.gov/dep/rectrails.

The Recreational Trails Program is a program of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration but is administered through DEEP.

Recreational Trails Program funds may be used for:

• Construction of new trails (motorized and non-motorized).
• Maintenance and restoration of existing recreational trails (motorized and non-motorized).
• Access to trails by persons with disabilities.
• Purchase and lease of trail construction and maintenance equipment.
• Acquisition of land or easements for a trail, or for trail corridors.
• Operation of educational programs to promote safety and environmental protection as related to recreational trails.

Grants may be made to any private nonprofit organizations, municipalities, state departments and tribal governments.  Grant amounts vary, and funding levels are not yet guaranteed.

Some recipients of previous grants include:   

• Waterbury Development Corporation ($80,000) for improvements to the Chase Bridge to make it accessible to all users.  This is a first step for the Naugatuck River Greenway in Waterbury.  http://www.cogcnv.org/greenway
  
• The Last Green Valley ($87,000) to design a network of easily-accessible water trails.  http://www.tlgv.org/index.php
  
• The Town of Oxford ($77,000) for the Rockhouse Hill Sanctuary to enhance and create nearly 3 miles of new trails, additional parking spaces and bridges.