Recreational Trails Program Educational Funding

The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is a federally funded initiative administered by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP). It aims to support the development and maintenance of recreational trails and trail-related facilities that serve both motorized and non-motorized uses. The program is made possible through funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). In New York State, the RTP is delivered through a reimbursement-based grant process, where applicants must cover project costs upfront and are later reimbursed for up to 80% of eligible expenses. RTP funds are allocated based on specific categories: 30% must be used for non-motorized recreation, 30% for motorized recreation, and 40% for diverse recreational trail uses. The program supports a range of eligible activities including trail maintenance, development of trailside and trailhead facilities, equipment purchase for trail maintenance, new trail construction, property acquisition, and trail condition assessments for accessibility and maintenance planning. However, funds cannot be used for planning studies, law enforcement, sidewalk construction, or improvements to roads intended for standard vehicle traffic unless those roads are specifically designated for recreational use. Eligible applicants include municipalities, state and federal agencies, public benefit corporations, public authorities, not-for-profit corporations, and tribal nations. Depending on the applicant type and year, applications must be submitted either through the New York State Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) or via the State Application Solicitation. Not-for-profits must also be prequalified in the State Financial System by the application deadline. Applications require detailed documentation, including environmental review forms, project maps, legal agreements regarding property access or ownership, and supporting materials relevant to the project type. Applications are reviewed competitively based on published scoring criteria. Once selected, projects are progressed through several required phases—Preliminary Design, Final Design, Right-of-Way, and Construction. Each phase must be federally authorized before costs become eligible for reimbursement. Grantees must meet extensive compliance obligations related to environmental regulations, accessibility standards, procurement laws, and civil rights provisions. The program typically awards grants ranging from $5,000 to $300,000 in federal funds, with a total of approximately $2 million available annually. Applications are due biennially depending on applicant type. The anticipated next application window opens in 2027 for CFA applicants. Interested applicants should refer to the RTP Guide and contact the appropriate Regional Grants Administrator for assistance. For general inquiries, the central contact is nysoprhp@parks.ny.gov or 518-474-0427.

Ensure full federal authorization before incurring costs; non-compliance may lead to loss of funding.