Trail projects to receive thousands in grant money

The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation is awarding $547,571 in grant money to help fund 14 trail projects across the state, including four local projects.

Grant funds are made available each year through the federal Recreation Trails Program for municipalities and nonprofit organizations to build and maintain public recreation trails.

Applicants could request a grant for up to 80 percent of a project’s estimated costs, up to $50,000. The catch, though, is that the Recreation Trails Program is a reimbursement platform, so up front, applicants will have to have enough funds to pay for all the costs necessary to do the work proposed in the grant application.

• The Vermont River Conservancy has been awarded funds to construct a mile of the North Branch Cascades Trail along the North Branch of the Winooski River adjacent to Route 12 in Worcester and Elmore, with a trailhead parking area.

• The Green Mountain Club will be able to renovate the Butler Lodge along the ridge of Mount Mansfield at Profanity Trail Junction and at Eagle Pass.

• Winooski Valley Park District is planning to use grant funds to complete phase one of archeological survey work at planned trail construction sites within the Wolcott Family Natural Area.

• Vermont Mountain Bike Association and Mad River Riders were approved to construct 1.4 miles of new mountain bike trails — Lookout Loop Trail — and improve half a mile of trail at the existing Blueberry Lake trail system in Warren.

A breakdown of funds awarded to each project was unavailable as of press time.

Next year’s 2018 grant round will begin with pre-applications due this fall. Full applications are due in February 2018. For more information, visit the Recreation Trails Program website at fpr.vermont.gov/recreation/grants/rtp or contact program administrator Sherry Winnie at sherry.winnie@vermont.gov or 802.760.8450.