Latest news with #RecreationalTrailsProgram
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Stutsman County Park Board accepts water trail grant
Jun. 5—JAMESTOWN — The Stutsman County Park Board unanimously approved on Tuesday, June 3, accepting a grant from the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department's Recreational Trails Program. North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department awarded $240,000 to the Stutsman County Park Board to establish destination kayak launch sites at key recreation points along Jamestown Reservoir, according to the department's website. The 80-20 matching grant through the Recreational Trails Program requires a match of $60,000 from the Stutsman County Park Board that can include in-kind donations and labor. The park board has 18 months to complete the work. Projects include purchasing concrete picnic tables and docks and installing them at various areas along Jamestown Reservoir and ordering a skidsteer. The Jamestown Sun previously reported that 25 concrete picnic tables can be purchased at $1,000 for each one. The grant funds can also be used for docks for less than $20,000 each and a skidsteer for under $100,000. Stutsman County Commission Chairman Levi Taylor said his only concern is agreeing to purchase items and not having the $60,000 in in-kind donations and labor. The Stutsman County Commission unanimously approved a change in boundaries for the Jamestown Rural Fire Department that won't include a parcel where the new North Dakota State Hospital will be built. Jessica Alonge, Stutsman County auditor/chief operating officer, said the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services is looking to annex the parcel for the new State Hospital into the city of Jamestown. "I received the notice (from the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services), verified that it was in compliance with everything that's required with the petition and then determined their proportionate percentage of taxable valuation (to the Jamestown Rural Fire District)," she said. Alonge said the Jamestown Rural Fire Department has two loans — one for a ladder truck and another that is a 30-year building bond. She said the total balance of the truck loan would be about $425,000 and the total balance left on the building loan would be about $3.4 million beginning Jan. 1, 2026. She said the total taxable value in 2024 for the parcel was about $9,000 and using a proportionate share of 0.02%, the total responsibility for the bonded indebtedness of the parcel that the fire district will lose out is about $700. A public hearing will be held on the topic at the Stutsman County Commission's meeting on June 17. In other business, the county commission unanimously approved: * the appointment of Beth Dewald to the Great Plains Housing Authority board for a five-year term that begins July 1 and expires June 30, 2030. * the appointment of Susan Koropatnicki as treasurer/recorder of Stutsman County. * a request to reclaim County Road 39 east of Medina. The road would be reclaimed by adding gravel over the top of the road east from Medina to 58th Avenue and then south to Interstate 94. The total cost is about $129,000.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Vermont's fire towers to be restored and improved to ensure continued recreational access
Vermont's state-owned fire towers are going to get a long overdue makeover, starting this summer. The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation launched the first phase of a project to restore and maintain the towers on May 1. The restoration work will begin at Bear Hill fire tower in Allis State Park in Randolph, which will be closed to the public from May 1 to June 15, followed by the Burke Mountain fire tower in East Burke, which will be closed from May 15 to May 31. Safety railings will be installed on the Spruce Mountain, Elmore Mountain, Okemo Mountain, Bald Mountain and Mt. Olga fire towers later in the summer. These towers won't be closed as long as the Bear Hill and Burke Mountain fire towers, which require more extensive work. Vermont's fire towers were built in the early 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps to monitor forest fires, but today serve primarily as a fun spot to climb up to for a great view, having been made obsolete by new technologies to detect fires. FPR will use $450,000 from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to complete the maintenance and safety improvements at the Bear Hill and Burke Mountain fire towers, preserving their historic character while providing better access for visitors. An additional $60,000 from the Recreational Trails Program will be used to install the safety railings on the other five towers, with work continuing into spring 2026. Valley Restoration, LLC, of Litchfield, Connecticut, a company specializing in historic preservation of fire towers will do the work. "These fire towers are an important piece of Vermont's forest management history and provide a unique way for Vermonters and our visitors to enjoy our public lands," Oliver Pierson, director of the forests division, said in a news release. Contact Dan D'Ambrosio at 660-1841 or ddambrosio@ Follow him on Twitter @DanDambrosioVT. This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Renovation of Vermont's historic fire towers has begun this year
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Expanded Lake Whelchel trail boosts outdoor recreation space
CHEROKEE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – An Upstate trail was expanded on Thursday, providing outdoor enjoyers more available space for walking, hiking and mountain biking. The Lake Whelchel trail announced its expansion by 2.5 miles on Thursday and said that the county is one step closer to their long-term goal of having of having a 35-mile, multiuse trail from the City of Chesnee to Kings Mountain National Military Park. The Lake Whelchel trail is a part of two regional trail networks: the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail and the Carolina Thread Trail. The trail is now 10 miles and has added a new trailhead with 42 parking spaces, located at Pleasant School Road. The project was funded by a $98,000 Recreational Trails Program grant from the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism that was received in 2023. Cherokee County matched the funds, along with personnel and equipment to help complete the project. Construction for the project began in September 2024. 'This trail is more than just a path through the woods it`s a connection to our community, to our shared history, and to the natural beauty that makes Cherokee County such a special place,' Cherokee County Administrator, Merv Bishop, said. 'Partnerships like this with the Gaffney Board of Public Works, the Overmountain Victory Trail, the Carolina Thread Trail, and all the volunteers and organizations who pitched in show what`s possible when we work together for a common cause.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Springdale applies for ARDOT grants to build, upgrade trail
SPRINGDALE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The city of Springdale is applying for two grants from the Arkansas Department of Transportation to build and repair two trails. The city is seeking an approximately $229,600 grant from ARDOT's Transportation Alternatives Program for the Pride of Springdale Trail, Tristan Hill, the city's active transportation coordinator, said. In a memo to Mayor Doug Sprouse and the city council April 9, the city estimates upgrades to Thunder Chicken Trailhead will cost a total of $146,000 — $116,800 of which will come courtesy of ARDOT's Recreational Trails Program grant. 'We're always looking for opportunities to expand the trail network in Springdale,' Hill said. 'The recreational benefits, we don't have to explain to anybody. Those are well-known at this point. The economic benefits, having a trail adjacent to your property can increase your property value. The tourism and economic benefits, the amount of people it brings in, it brings sales tax revenue to the city.' NWA city set to pave 11 miles of road across next 2 years If awarded the grant, the city will build a bikeable trail alongside Har-Ber Avenue from 48th Street to Gene George Boulevard as part of the Pride of Springdale Trail. The city's still determining whether there will either be a two-way bicycle path on one side of Har-Ber Avenue, or two separate bike paths that go with the flow of traffic, Hill said. The Pride of Springdale Trail will serve as an extension of the bike path on the Emma Avenue overpass that is being constructed over Interstate 49. Hill said the goal is for the Pride of Springdale to eventually connect Springdale High School to Har-Ber High School. 'That's going to be one of our major East-to-West routes in the long term once it's all said and done,' Hill said. 'I-49 has been a pretty major barrier to some of the East-West connections in Springdale. And so, just trying to figure out ways to tie the neighborhoods surrounding back into that overpass so you can safely cross the interstate.' Thunder Chicken Trail will be getting more cosmetic upgrades to create a more 'family-friendly, beginner-oriented' mountain bike park, Hill said. Hill said some wooden features along Thunder Chicken Trail have been degraded over time, and a portion of the trail needs to be reconnected after a project done by Springdale Water Utilities at the nearby sewer treatment plant. There is also set to be rock replacement, installation of culverts and placement of topsoil, seed and straw, according to the memo sent to the mayor and city council. 2 U of A students have visas reinstated after DHS termination Jeff Peak is an avid cyclist from Northwest Arkansas, saying he's biked more than 2,000 miles this year. He said Springdale does a good job of maintaining its trails and is excited for the future upgrades on the horizon. 'I have faith in Springdale because they've done such a beautiful job so far,' Peak said. 'Any expansions that they do or any added value to this bike system through here would be greatly appreciated.' Hill said the grant application for the Pride of Springdale was filed Friday, while still needing to fill out the Thunder Chicken Trail application. The deadline to file for the application is Wednesday. Hill estimates, if awarded the grants, the projects will be completed by summer 2026. Peak said one upgrade he'd like to see along the trails could be more designated rest areas with restrooms and water fountains. Hill said if you have a suggestion for upgrades you'd like to see or where a new trailhead could be, he encourages you to reach out to the city or to your elected officials. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Restoring Cypress Grove boardwalk, Jackson's parks department applies for grant
The City of Jackson's Recreation and Parks Department has restoration plans for the city's most unique and visited park, Cypress Grove. The 265-acre nature park has been a gem of Jackson since 1984, attracting nearly 20,000 visitors in 2024, both locally and from around the world. With more than one mile of elevated boardwalk embedded amongst tall trees and a variety of animal and insect species, the park features an observation tower overlooking Wood Duck Lake and a raptor center. On Monday, the parks staff held a public input meeting to discuss its plans for phase two of the boardwalk's reconstruction, a section of which has been closed for a decade. "Input is vital for our grant, the state and the federal government want to know that they are investing dollars in something the community wants," Park Operations Manager Christi David said. "We know the community wants Cypress boardwalk fixed. We have had plenty of input from social media, and anytime there's something going, anytime there's a post about Cypress, people are very quick to let us know what they would like to see out here. So we have no doubt that this is something the public wants [and] this is something we want as well." More: Walkways at Cypress Grove Nature Park to be rebuilt by TDEC grant funding More: Jackson Parks and Recreation to develop master plan, prioritize disability access More: City council moves forward with infrastructure project list for bond issue In September 2024, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation awarded the parks department a $392,000 grant through its Recreational Trails Program, which will be used in the first phase of repairing 1,300-linear feet of run-down boardwalk. In its newest grant opportunity through the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership, the parks department can receive a maximum of $451,550, with a 50% match required by the city. The current boardwalk is made of wood, which has expanded and deteriorated over time due to flood waters. David says, if awarded the grant, they hope to rebuild the closed section with composite. The grant would fund the boardwalk section of Jewelweed Trail to Killdeer Pond, restoring the loop that surrounds the raptop center and connecting back to the main boardwalk leading to Wood Duck Lake. David estimates that reconstructing the boardwalk in its entirety will take upwards of $7 million, but the parks department will continue applying for grants to help fund each phase. "Not just the loop is important, I think the entire boardwalk is important at this point," she said. "Now we have data that shows almost 20,000 visitors last year alone with the boardwalk in the shape that it's in. We can't imagine what the future of Cypress is when it's repaired and when it becomes the shining jewel that it once was." Consideration of the grant will be discussed at the Mar. 4 city council meeting and additional public input will be sought via virtual feedback on Mar. 11 ahead of the grant submission deadline in April. Sarah Best is a reporter for The Jackson Sun. To support local journalism, subscribe to the Daily Briefing here. This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: Cypress Grove seeks grant funding, phase two of boardwalk restoration
