Recreational Trails Program

The Recreational Trails Program is a competitive federal grant initiative funded by the Federal Highway Administration and administered in Florida by the Department of Environmental Protection in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation. The program’s primary purpose is to provide financial assistance for the development and maintenance of recreational trails, trailheads, and trailside facilities. Projects funded under this program are intended to enhance Florida’s recreational trail systems and must be primarily recreational in nature rather than for utilitarian transportation functions. Eligible applicants include agencies from city, county, state, or federal governments, as well as nonprofit organizations approved by the state and recognized Indian tribal governments. All project proposals must address recreational trail interests, which may be nonmotorized, motorized, or mixed-use, and may include trailside amenities or trailheads. Projects limited solely to planning activities are not eligible. The maximum grant amounts depend on the type of project, ranging from $350,000 for nonmotorized single-use, up to $2,000,000 for motorized projects. Funding is provided on a matching basis, with ratios of 50:50, 60:40, or 80:20 (program to grantee), except for federal agencies, which may match with federal funds up to 95%, with at least 5% coming from non-federal sources. Cash and in-kind service costs are acceptable match sources, while the value of real property or inmate labor is not. Applicants must own the project site or lease it from a public agency and must demonstrate site control for a period of at least 25 years past project completion, or 99 years for land owned outright. Appropriate documentation, such as deeds, leases, or easements, must be provided, along with detailed legal descriptions and boundary maps that match the submitted documents. The application process is competitive and reviewed for eligibility, completeness, and scoring according to state and federal regulations. Applications are submitted on the required form (OGT-10) and must include supporting documents as outlined in the application checklist, such as a letter of support, project location maps, site plans, photographs, proof of site control, and evidence of public participation. Applications for the FY2025-2026 cycle must be submitted by postal mail between February 1, 2025, and March 1, 2025. Submissions must include all required exhibits, properly tabbed, and postmarked by the deadline. Incomplete or untabbed applications will be returned for correction, and applicants will have a 15-day deficiency period to address issues. Projects with active grant agreements from overlapping state or federal grant programs are not eligible for additional funding. Applications are scored, ranked, and submitted for review and approval by the relevant advisory committee, DEP Secretary, and finally the FHWA. For detailed application instructions, applicants must refer to the program’s rule and guidance documents. Contact for the program is Linda Reeves, Recreational Trails Program, Department of Environmental Protection, 3800 Commonwealth Boulevard, Mail Station 585, Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000, or by phone at 850-245-2118. Additional program information, helpful contacts, and required forms are available through the Florida DEP and related agency websites. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the application checklist and ensure all required documentation is included to facilitate a complete and eligible submission.

Carefully follow the application checklist, ensure all exhibits are properly tabbed, and include all required documentation. Incomplete or untabbed applications will be returned for correction.