Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2006
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Announces $1.1 Million Grant to Benefit Missouri Trail Projects
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt announced that 20 trail projects in Missouri have received approximately $1.1 million in funding through the federal Recreational Trails Program.
The Recreational Trails Program is a federally funded grant program for trail-related construction and maintenance. In Missouri, Recreational Trails Program funds are administered by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration.
"Through these grants, communities and organizations are able to build and enhance trails throughout Missouri. This provides opportunities for healthy recreation as well as ways for people to explore our great state," said Blunt.
The 20 grant recipients, chosen from 56 applications, were selected based on recommendations from the Missouri Trails Advisory Board, which represents diverse trail interest groups. The grants were awarded based on the results of a competitive scoring process and the application’s suitability under funding provisions included in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) and other federal guidelines. At least a 20 percent match is required by the applicant. A funding requirement targets 30 percent of the funding for motorized trails, 30 percent for non-motorized trails and 40 percent for diversified trail use.
"Our department is proud to be a part of this effort, which enhances the state as a whole as well as each individual that uses the trails," said Doyle Childers, director of the Department of Natural Resources.
Following is a list of Recreational Trails Program grant recipients, along with the projects and grant amounts:
Osage Region Trail Association, Inc., $24,676, Cedar Creek Trail - Extension, Modification and Reclamation, Callaway County.
City of Excelsior Springs, $100,000, Siloam Mountain Trail Phase II and Fishing River Linear Park
City of Columbia, $42,000, Garth Nature Area Trail Project
City of Salisbury, $27,738, Pott's Memorial Park Trail Project
City of Smithville, $98,339, Lake Remote Trails and Nature Area Improvements and Extension
Ozark National Scenic Riverways, $51,942, Devils Well - Cave Spring Loop Trail and Trailhead, Shannon County
City of Herculaneum, $67,960, Joachim Loop Trails
City of Joplin, $92,946, Metropolitan Bicycle Pedestrian Plan (Wildcat Park-McIndoe Park Section)
City of Jefferson, Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry, $58,000, Ellis Porter/Riverside Park Greenway Trail Extension
City of Hazelwood, $77,224, Missouri River Greenway-St. Stanislaus/Truman Park Connector
City of Houston, $70,000, Brushy Creek Trail
City of Bowling Green, $68,424, Master Plan Area Four; Path System
City of Sugar Creek, $67,020, La Benite All-terrain vehicle/Motorcycle Trail
U.S. Forest Service, $66,098, Chadwick Motorcycle & ATV Trail Maintenance and Rehabilitation, Christian County
Missouri Dirt Riders, $20,000, Trail Equipment Storage, St. Joe State Park, St. Francois County
Midwest Trail Riders Association, $23,429, Viburnum Trend Riding Area Construction Equipment, Iron County
Mid State Trail Association, $45,910, trail mapping/maintenance and equipment purchase, multiple counties including Boone and St. Francois counties
Friends of St. Joe State Park/Missouri Dirt Riders #1, $12,836, Communication Equipment for St. Joe State Park, St. Francois County
Friends of St. Joe State Park, $35,270, Maintenance Equipment for St. Joe State Park, St.Francois County.
For more information about the grant program, contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources at (800) 334-6946 (voice) or (800) 379-2419 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) or call (573) 751-3442. For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel.
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