Recreational Trails Grants Program

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) accepts applications for Recreational Trails Grants on an annual basis, with the deadline typically around October 1.

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Program Overview

The Recreational Trails Program provides grants ranging from $2,000 to $50,000 on a reimbursement basis for a variety of trail protection, construction, and stewardship projects throughout Massachusetts. It is part of the national Recreational Trails Program, which is funded through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Funds are disbursed to each state to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both non-motorized and motorized recreational trail uses. In Massachusetts, funds are administered by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), in partnership with the Massachusetts Recreational Trails Advisory Board.

Recreational Trails grants are 80-20 challenge grants. In other words, 80% of the project costs are reimbursed to grantees, but at least 20% of the total project value must come from other sources.

Program legislation requires that portions of funds be reserved for different types of projects. The Recreational Trails Program allocates 30% of its funds to motorized use, 30% to non-motorized use, and 40% to diverse use projects. The Recreational Trails program also requires that projects be primarily recreation- rather than transportation-oriented, and will give priority to projects creating or facilitating physical, on-the-ground trail improvements, which protect or enhance the site's natural and cultural resources, and link individuals and communities to these resources.

Suggested Projects

This list is intended to inspire your creativity, not to limit your options.

Suggested Activities for Recreational Trails Projects include:

• Construction of new trails.
• Acquisition of land or easements to protect critical sections of priority trails (such as state-wide Long-Distance trails).
• Enhancement, stewardship and maintenance of existing trails (this could include bridge construction, drainage work, trail hardening, trail grooming, etc.).
• Development of trailside and trailhead facilities (such as signage, kiosks, maps, gates, and interpretive displays).
• Trail stewardship aimed at educating users, minimizing impacts on natural and cultural resources, and resolving conflicts.
• Projects that demonstrate creative approaches to trail construction, partnerships, resource protection, and stewardship.
• Provision of features that facilitate trail access and use by persons with disabilities.

Suggested Types of Trails for Recreational Trails Projects:

• Long distance trails (such as Mass Central Rail Trail, Mid-state Trail, Metacomet-Monadnock Trail, Appalachian Trail, Warner Trail, Bay Circuit Trail, and Mahican-Mohawk Trail).
• Trails that link natural and recreational resources (such as state or local parks) to homes, schools, neighborhoods, and communities - especially communities of socio-economic and environmental need.
• Urban trails in densely populated areas with underserved populations.
• Water trails.
• Trails on ‘non-traditional’ open spaces such as utility and transportation corridors, watershed lands, former industrial sites, and landfills.
• Snowmobile, ATV or off-road motorcycle trails.

Project Selection Criteria

To evaluate and select proposals, DCR and the Massachusetts Recreational Trails Advisory Board will use the following criteria to assess whether the proposal:

• Clearly demonstrates the need for the project, such as satisfying a recreational demand, connecting under-served communities, or solving a significant trails issue.

• Furthers one of the goals or strategies identified in Commonwealth Connections, or an adopted regional or local plan.

• Describes a realistic, tangible trail project that can be accomplished in the time given, and has as a realistic and appropriate budget.

• Creates, expands or enhances a trail system or new trail connections, with real and lasting public benefits.

• Thoroughly considers relevant environmental, social and cultural issues, and minimizes or mitigates impacts to natural and cultural resources, addressing all applicable permitting issues.

• Creates partnerships among trail users, organizations, or agencies.

• Demonstrates community support for the project.

• Actively facilitates a variety of compatible trail uses.

Requirements

1. Timeline: FOUR (4) unbound copies of your application (see list of application materials at the bottom of this page), including all supporting materials, must generally be postmarked by October 1st.  Only one copy of all FOUR financial documents is necessary.  If the full grant is also available in electronic form (including maps and pictures), then three hardcopies can be sent in with one electronic copy.  Grant awards will typically be announced in early summer. All grant funds must be expended, and grant-funded work completed within 18 months of the contract start date.  No grant work may begin until the grant contract and agreement has been finalized. 

2. Eligibility: All state, regional, municipal, and some federal government agencies, as well as IRS-approved non-profit organizations are eligible for grants under the program. State and federal agencies should call for additional details on eligibility.

3. Permitting: It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that any necessary permits (e.g. Natural Heritage, Mass Historic, Wetlands Protection Act) are in place prior to starting the project. Failure to obtain necessary permits may prevent grant payment.  

4. Land Ownership: Proposals for projects that will take place on land that is not owned or managed by the applying organization must include a signed statement from the appropriate landowner or manager specifically authorizing the project and ensuring that the property is open for continuing public access. If the project will take place on private land, an easement for public access with a commitment of no less than 10 years must be in place prior to the award .

5. Acquisitions: All real property acquisitions must comply with federal and state law. They must be done in accordance with the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, 42 U.S.C. § 4601 et seq., as amended; which can be found at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/realestate/ua/index.htm. In addition, the applicant will be required to have an appraisal prepared, which must be reviewed by an independent review appraiser, certifying that the appraisal meets the standards of the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions. These standards can be found at http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/land-ack. Both the appraisal and review must be submitted prior to funding approval.

6. Equipment Purchases: Equipment may only be purchased with grant funding if its use will be on-going for at least five years and integral to the project, such as snowmobile trail grooming.

• Cost/Value Analysis:  For projects requiring only limited use of equipment, rental or contracting should be considered and a demonstrated cost/value comparison and proof of necessity must be provided within the grant narrative. Be sure to provide specific timeframes and cost analysis, as the review team will scrutinize cost comparisons closely and this will directly affect a grantee’s chances of funding. 

• Reporting: Grants awarded for the purchase of equipment will require subsequent documentation of the equipment’s use and condition for five years on a bi-annual basis following the grant award, or for a longer timeframe, based on the use and type of equipment, to be determined by the MARTAB review team. 

• Equipment Term: If the equipment is abandoned or sold within the five year timeframe, the equipment or its sale price must be redistributed towards similar trail project equipment or trail work as indicated in the original grant project proposal.  Proof of this redistribution must be submitted to RTP.  If the documentation is considered insufficient, the equipment or sale value must be returned directly to RTP for redistribution.   

7. Signage: Where applicable, each RTP project site must display a permanent RTP acknowledgement sign.  The sign should be constructed of sturdy material that is permanent, large enough to be clearly visible and located at a prominent access point to the trail area.  The suggested language identifies the site as a cooperative venture (i.e. “A Cooperative Trail Project between the ‘Name of Municipality/Org.’ and the Recreational Trails Program”).  Any printed materials such as trail brochures, celebration announcements or website information should also identify the financial partnership that made the project a reality.  Stickers or decals should be printed and displayed on all equipment purchased with RTP funding.

7. Match: The project application must include estimates for the matching portion of the project cost. The match must cover a minimum (greater amounts are encouraged) of 20% of the total value of a project. For example, an $8,000 grant would require at least $2,000 in matching contributions, for a total project value of $10,000. If your project is selected for a grant, the match will need to be documented with invoices, time sheets, or other acceptable records. The actual, documented value of the match must equal at least 20% of the total project value before the final grant payment can be made and the grant closed out.   If submitting multiple reimbursement requests throughout the grant contract period, each individual request must include a match of 20% of that reimbursement request.

Guidelines for “in-kind” match contributions:

Allowed:

• Money from other grants and donations
• Municipal, agency, or organizational funds
• Donations of money, labor or materials

Not allowed:

• Match contribution that does not directly relate to the proposed project
• Contributions that occurred prior to notification of the grant award
• Matching contributions applied to any other grant

For more information about the program or its requirements please contact:

Amanda Lewis

Recreational Trails Program Coordinator

136 Damon Road

Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 586-8706 ext. 19

amanda.lewis@state.ma.us

Application Materials:

Application Form
Standard Contract
W-9 Form
Terms & Conditions
Signature Verification Form

Note: All Application Material is in Microsoft Word format.