The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission on Aug. 26 approved approximately $3.3 million for 23 National Recreational Trail Grant projects in communities across the state, as well as in 8 state parks and a wildlife management area. Included in the funding amount was $25,000 awarded to Texas 4-H for an All-Terrain-Vehicle safety program.
The National Recreational Trails Fund comes from a portion of the federal gas tax generated by the sale of gasoline for use in off-road recreational vehicles such as dirt bikes and ATVs. Money from the trail fund goes toward the creation and maintenance of motorized and non-motorized recreational trails.
The Federal Highway Administration manages the fund and distributes portions of it to states based on a formula that takes into account the state’s population and fuel sales for off-road vehicles.
The program provides 80-20 matching grants, so that in each case the grant recipient must pay for 20 percent of the total project cost. Dollar amounts shown below are 80 percent of the project cost.
The 10-member Texas Statewide Trails Advisory Board reviewed the proposals and developed a list of recommended projects for funding based on the quality of the project, its cost effectiveness, its impact on recreational trail opportunities and geographic distribution of funds.
A number of recreational trail grant projects funded in previous years were completed under budget and two projects were cancelled, resulting in the availability of $485,000 that was awarded to fund trail improvements in eight state parks and the Chapparal WMA. State parks that will receive grant monies are: Bastrop, Caprock Canyons, Cooper Lake, Huntsville, Lake Brownwood, Meridian, Seminole Canyon and Tyler.
List of funded trail-construction projects by county:
Angelina County — U. S. Forest Service, $560,000 to plan and build a new, 15-mile motorized trail system with bridges and signs in Angelina Sabine National Forest.
Brazoria County – City of Freeport, $199,898 to renovate the 0.13-mile Wetlands Trail and build observation decks, a bridge and place signs.
Cherokee County — Friends of the Texas Historical Commission, $32,950 for the Convergence Trail at Caddoan Mounds State Historic Site. Funds will be used to build a 0.24-mile crushed granite trail with benches and a sign designating its location on El Camino Real.
Childress County – City of Childress, $203,150 to construct a motocross track. Funds will be used to provide signage, comfort stations and restrooms.
Collin County – City of Farmersville, $200,000 for engineering and to build the new, 2.6-mile granite Chaparral Rail-Trail.
Dallas County – Dallas Audubon Society, $25,600 to renovate the Cedar Ridge trails and provide erosion control.
Dallas County – City of Garland, $40,000 for the Spring Creek Trail. Funds will be used to build a new 1.4-mile trail and renovate 2.6 miles of trail and add signs, trail markers and GPS coordinates.
Denton County – City of The Colony, $200,000 to construct the .094-mile, concrete Wynnewood Peninsula Trail and install benches and signs.
El Paso County – City of El Paso, $77,913 for the Three Hills Loop Mountain Bike Trail. Funds will be used to design and build a new, 3-mile portion of the trail and reclaim 2 miles the trail and add signs.
Ennis County – Texas Equestrian Trail Riders, $17,600 for the renovation of the existing 26-mile trail and Bardwell Lake Trail, which will include providing erosion control.
Galveston County – City of Nassau Bay, $160,000 to build the 0.94-mile concrete Peninsula Trail and provide benches and signage.
Guadalupe County – City of Schertz, $87,300 to construct the 1.8-mile, granite Schertz Trail and provide drainage and signage.
Harris County – Memorial Park Conservancy, $84,872 to renovate the 1.4-mile granite trail, build an additional 1.2 miles of trail, and provide signs and gates.
Hays County – Hays County, $100,000 to build 3.15 miles of accessible Dahlstrom Ranch trails and install benches.
Hays County – Hayes County WCID #2, $190,000 for the Bear Creek Trail. Funds will be used to build 1.2 miles of new trail and renovate 2.6 miles of the existing granite trail, and to provide seating, signage and a water crossing.
Hidalgo County – City of Weslaco, $20,084 to build the new 0.66-mile granite Paseo del Norte Trail.
Lipscomb County – City of Higgins, $45,200 to construct the concrete Community Park Trail and pour a pavilion pad.
Lubbock County – American Wind Power Center, $43,560 to build the new, 0.37-mile Windmill Lake Trail, mark it with signs, put up a fence and install benches.
Medina County – City of Castroville, $8,000 to build the new 0.2-mile asphalt Lions Park Trail circling the park and to install benches.
Tarrant County – Haltom City, $200,000 for the Whites Branch Trail. Funds will be used to design and build the concrete, 1-mile trail and install a bridge and signs.
Travis County – City of Austin, $62,890 to renovate two miles of the West Zilker Park Nature Trail, and install steps, fencing and a storage shed.
Upshur County – Texas Motorized Trail Coalition, $54,000 to purchase a dozer and provide erosion control as part of Barnwell Mountain improvements.
Walker County – Greater Houston Off-Road Bike Association, $160,000 to design and build the new Hunstville Trail. Funds also will be used to construct bridges and erect signs.
