an official NEW HAMPSHIRE government website
What is the Recreational Trails Program?
The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is a component of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA:LU), which provides for the transfer of federal gas tax money paid on fuel used by off-highway vehicles for recreation. For further information on the Recreational Trails Program, check out the federal Recreational Trails Program website. The New Hampshire Recreational Trails Program is a competitive grant program which quality applications are being solicited.
Who administers the program?
The program is administered by the N.H. Department of Resources and Economic Development, Division of Parks and Recreation, Bureau of Trails. Bill Gegas is the program coordinator and can be reached at 271-3254 or bgegas@dred.state.nh.us.
How much money is available?
New Hampshire has granted approximately $800,000 in previous grant years, to be used on projects on New Hampshire's trails. Grant Year 2008 funding is anticipated to be the same.
Who can sponsor a project?
Sponsors can include private and nonprofit organizations, municipalities, state and federal agencies. The program is community-based and partnerships are recommended. Applicants are encouraged to use youth conservation or service corps to accomplish trail projects.
What projects are eligible?
RTP funds may be used for maintenance and restoration of existing trails, purchase and lease of trail construction and maintenance equipment, construction of new trails, development and rehabilitation of trailside and trailhead facilities, trail linkages, and acquisition of easements or property for trails.
Projects that include equipment purchases will be required to retain the equipment for 4 years and provide yearly accounting of the equipment to the N.H. Bureau of Trails staff.
What projects are ineligible?
RTP may not be used for feasibility studies, planning, construction of paths or sidewalks along or adjacent to public roads nor projects in progress or completed prior to awarding of the grant.
What constitutes a project match?
Any funds, or the fair market value of materials and services may be donated by a project sponsor. Unskilled volunteer labor is rated at $9.77/hour and skilled labor is at market rate. In-kind labor from town or government employees is credited at their wage plus benefits. Convict labor may be used, but at the actual cost incurred by the administering agency. The RTP program is competitive and organizations are encouraged to provide a competitive match in their grant request.
How does project funding work?
Thirty percent of program funds are reserved for motorized trail projects, 30% are reserved for non-motorized trail projects, and 40% are reserved for diversified trail projects. The New Hampshire RTP will be making trail grants for a minimum of $1,000 and a maximum of $30,000. The maximum RTP share for each project is 80% of the project total. The 20% match to the program can be in the form of cash, materials, labor and in-kind services
Project payment will take place on a reimbursement basis; the project sponsor must incur cost for work actually completed, then submit requests for payment with cancelled checks attached. Working capital advances may be approved in advance on a case-by-case basis.
There is a maximun submission of two grant applications per organization. There is a $30,000 total fund maximum per organization in any grant year.
How do I identify trail users?
When identifying trail users you should take in to account the primary permitted users of the trail. If the trail has been set up as a snowmobile trail but cross-country skiers use the trail they are incidental users of the trail. However, if the trail is used in the winter by snowmobilers and hikers in the summer both are users of the trail.
Applicants will be evaluated in three categories and will compete against projects serving similar trail users.
Non-motorized Trail Projects: Serve the following, but are not limited to: pedestrians, hikers, skiers, bicyclists, equestrians, dog sled users and in-line skaters.
Motorized Trail Projects: Serve snowmobile, motorcycle, ATV and light utility vehicle users.
Diversified Trail Projects: Serve multiple users in the motorized and non-motorized categories on the same trail.
What information is needed for environmental analysis?
Two agencies will be reviewing your project and additional information may need to be provided by the grantee prior to contract issuance. To assist the agencies, photographs of the project locations are required.
The N.H. Natural Heritage Bureau will review the project area for rare and endangered plant and animal species. Staff will provide information on how to minimize impact. The N.H. Division of Historical Resources will review the project for significant cultural resources, both historic and prehistoric. If you are repairing or removing buildings and structures, digging, utilizing existing bridge abutments or developing new trails, be as specific as you can about the project by providing the age of the structure, building construction methods, and trail construction methods. Also, any project with impacts to wetlands, streams, or rivers will require the appropriate permit or notification form to be filed with the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services-Wetlands Bureau. All impacts must be discussed in this section.
When will I know if I have been awarded a grant?
Grantees will be notified of selection in the early spring. It is generally expected that work on projects can begin after July 1, 2008. All work for 2008 grant awards must be completed by June 30, 2009.
How do I apply?
1. All grant applications must be stamped in and received at N.H. Department of Resources and Economic Development (DRED)-Trails Bureau, by Friday, January 18, 2008 at 4:00 pm. U.S. Postal Service mail is delivered in the morning at PO Box 1856, Concord, NH 03302-1856; or if using an alternate mail service the street address is 172 Pembroke Road, Concord, NH 03301.
Late applications will not be accepted!!!!
2. There must be 2 copies of each completed grant application submitted. Applications should be typed.
3. Each application should include only one trail project that serves the same type of trail user(s). There is a limit of two applications that an organization may submit.
4. Be sure to attach all required information, landowner permission, topographical map of the project area (USGS, topo, etc.). A total of four color maps are required.
An editable pdf version of the 2008 application is available here online.
To enter your information on the form, place your cursor on the area where you want to type.
Please note that the form is printable, but cannot be saved - have all your information ready before you begin.
Click HERE to access the pdf version of the 2008 application.
To access pdf files, download the latest version of the free Adobe Acrobat Reader:
What if I need extra help?
Recreational Trails Grant Workshops will be held at 6:00 p.m. in the Conference Room of the DRED offices on
> Wednesday, November 28, 2007 in Concord, 172 Pembroke Road
> Tuesday, December 11, 2007 in Lancaster, US Route 3 (1 mile North of Lancaster Fairgrounds)
For more information about the Recreational Trails Program, contact:
Bill Gegas, Program Specialist
N.H. Division of Parks and Recreation
Bureau of Trails
P.O. Box 1856
Concord, NH 03302
(603) 271-3254
bgegas@dred.state.nh.us
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