The North Carolina Trails Committee is doling out over $1.24 million in federal grants to fuel the state's passion for outdoor recreation, a recent press release from the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation revealed. The December meeting resulted in the selection of 18 projects, ranging from trail development to safety and education endeavors, all set to receive federal matching grants. In addition to these funds, the committee put forth recommendations for official access points on the state's burgeoning paddle trail on the Haw River and four new access points on the Yadkin River State Trail.
"This annual funding from the federal government is key to continuing North Carolina’s distinction as the Great Trails State," quoted Reid Wilson, N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary, according to the release. The investments are expected to bolster trail facilities and services, ranging from the sustainable relocation of an off-road vehicle trail to greenway improvements, to the creation of a new paddle trail access. The selected projects boast funding between a tidy sum, of just over $54,000 and climbing up to the grant limit of $100,000, while Safety and Education grants bring an additional $24,000 to the table for development efforts.
Notably, the committee has backed the designation of Brooks Bridge in Rockingham County as the inaugural access point on the Haw River State Trail, which only recently came into legislative existence in 2023. The Yadkin River State Trail's newest access additions include boat entries at Morrow Mountain State Park, Donnaha Access in Yadkin County, Moravian Creek Access in the town of Wilkesboro, and Ronda Memorial Park Access in the town of Ronda, collectively extending the trail by 13.6 miles.
"We are very excited to continue to make progress on the state trails," Brian Strong, the Division Director said, as per the release. He regards these developments as pivotal to enhancing public access to North Carolina's picturesque landscapes, particularly the Haw and Yadkin Rivers. The state's trail system embodies a collaborative spirit, propelled by diverse section sponsors who together, lay the groundwork, and manage the state trails' growing network.
The financial backbone of these initiatives is the federal Recreational Trails Program Grant, courtesy of the Federal Highway Administration. This grant fuels a wide range of trail-related activities, from construction to maintenance, and land acquisition to planning. When it comes to who's eligible, federal, state, and local government entities are in the running alongside qualified nonprofits. The North Carolina Trails Committee plays the pivotal role of advisor, providing funding recommendations to the DNCR Secretary, who then makes the final call on the grant awards.
