Local trails and parks receive grant funding

Lake County has received a $10,000 grant for improvements at the Rainbow Drive river access in Ferndale and Mellett Point access on Flathead Lake.

Montana State Parks on Thursday announced that 60 trail organizations, communities, and various land-managing agencies throughout Montana will receive federal Recreational Trails Program federal grant awards for their projects in 2015.

A record 89 applications were received this year from a variety of eligible applicants, including federal and state agencies, towns, cities, counties, and private clubs and organizations. The funds are appropriated to the states in the 2014 Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act legislation passed by Congress with additional extensions for fiscal year 2015. The Recreational Trails Program current awards total approximately $982,500 in federal funds with the remaining awards to be released later this fall as funding becomes available. Funds have been allocated to the highest-scoring 33 projects based upon their relative scores and State Trails Advisory Committee recommendations.

Projects range from construction and maintenance of trails, development of trailside and trailhead facilities, ethics and avalanche education and trainings, and interpretive programs.

In addition to Lake County’s $10,000, the Flathead Snowmobile Association was awarded $45,000 for snowmobile trail maintenance. The North Shore Nordic Club received $12,000 for trail maintenance at its Blacktail Mountain and Echo Lake crosscountry ski trails. The Swan Ecosystem Center earned a $32,000 gfrant for trails projects, visitor education and backcountry services projects.

A list of the successful 2015 Recreational Trails Program grant recipients is available here at stateparks.mt.gov/recreation/rtpGrants.html