What Happened?
Cities are receiving funding through state and federal grants to help accelerate trails projects designed to increase access to green space and recreational activities.
Yamhill
In Yamhill and Washington counties in Oregon, a trail project recently received a financial boost from a federal grant. The Yamhelas Westsider Trail that runs through both Yamhill and Washington counties is another step closer to completion thanks to a technical assistance grant from the National Parks Service. The technical assistance grant will build off the $1.5 million federal transportation grant the project received in 2013 for the purchase of the land for the 17-mile trail, Oregon Live reported.
The technical assistance grant will be used to help the counties develop a conceptual plan for how best to launch and complete the rail-to-trail initiative. The grant can aid in designing the non-engineering aspects of the trail, as well as define the role of stakeholders in building and maintaining the trail. The conceptual plan will iron out details such as:
- What kind of flowers to plant
- Where trees will be placed
- Design of the trailheads
- Who is responsible for maintenance
- Who will own the trail
In addition, the funding will help pay for engineering and environmental studies, as well as the purchase of nine miles worth of land. The trail will be constructed along the abandoned Union Pacific railway lines and feature both gravel and paved paths to accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists and equestrians, Oregon Live reported.
National Parks Service
The National Parks Service helped more than 350 communities launch parks projects across the country last year. Through the service’s Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program, communities were able to:
- Improve local parks
- Establish trails
- Access rivers
- Protect conservation areas
The technical assistance grants are awarded to community groups, nonprofits, tribes and state and local governments. The National Park Service provides grantees with:
- Facilitation and planning expertise
- Engaging partners
- Developing plans
- Identifying funding sources
The goal is to get parks and trails projects up and running and on the path toward sustainability.
Streator
Streator, Illinois, received $400,000 through the state’s Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development program to help fund the first phase of its greenway project. Along Streator’s riverside, municipal leaders plan to install:
- A new park
- A pedestrian bridge crossing
- Miles of trails
With expectations to complete the project by the spring of 2016, the $400,000 grant will be used to move the initiative forward in hopes of boosting tourism and recreation in the area. Streator also has access to $400,000 from a recent land transfer and an additional $50,000 in general funds that can be used on the project.
OSLAD
The Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development program in Illinois has awarded $26 million to 75 projects in 28 counties across the state. The goal of these grants is to help communities buy land to be developed into parks and recreational space.
Since launching in 1987, the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development program has invested more than $390 million in nearly 2,000 parks projects statewide. Funding to support the program comes from a percentage of Illinois Real Estate Transfer Tax.
Related Stories
Why Trails Offer More Than Recreational Benefits STUDY: Access to Trails Reduces Youth Obesity Dallas Rail Trail Boosts Economy