Presenter: Andy Goldbloom
Commission Agenda Item No. 5
Action
National Recreational Trail
Grant Fund Awards
August 2001
I. Discussion: The National Recreational Trails Fund (NRTF) comes from a portion of the federal gas tax generated by gasoline purchases to utilize off-road recreational vehicles, such as dirt bikes and four-wheelers. The purpose of the NRFT is to provide funding for projects that create new and maintain existing recreational trails. At the federal level, this fund is administered by the Federal Highway Administration and distributed to states via a formula that takes into account state population and sales of fuel for off-road recreational vehicles. Nationwide, the program was appropriated $50 Million for the current fiscal year (FY2001), Texas’ share of these funds is $2,414,742.
A federal requirement of the NRTF is that 30% of the funds be spent on motorized recreational trail projects, 30% on non-motorized trail projects, with the remaining 40% discretionary. Last year we did not receive enough requests for motorized funds to satisfy the 30% requirement and have an additional $270,888 of FY2000 motorized funds available for this fiscal year. In addition, a few previously funded project were completed under budget or were withdrawn creating another $105,663 available for re-allocation this year.
In March 2001, a 90 day call for proposals was issued. Cities, counties, state and federal parks and trail related groups were directly notified by mail of the availability of the trail funds. Sixty-six projects were submitted for funding consideration requesting almost $6.2 Million in funds.
The Act that created this fund stipulates that states must have a trails advisory board made up of various trail user group representatives to be eligible to receive the federal funds. The purpose of the trails advisory board is to provide guidance in the distribution of these funds. The 11-member, Texas Trails Advisory Board met in June to review the submitted trail project proposals and develop a list of recommended projects for funding. Each project was reviewed by the advisory board and ranked based on the quality of the project, its cost effectiveness, its impact on recreational trail opportunities, and geographic distribution of funds. Exhibit A contains the list of submitted projects, with funds requested by each sponsor, funding recommended by the advisory board and a description of each project. The Department utilizes 5% of the state's share to cover administrative costs associated with this program.
II. Recommendation: The staff recommends the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motion:
"Funding for 35 projects recommended in Exhibit A in the amount of $2,670,556 is approved."
Attachments – 2
1. Exhibit
A – Project
Listing and Funding Recommendations
2. Exhibit B - Fiscal
Note (Available upon request)
Commission
Agenda Item No. 5
Exhibit
A
National
Recreational Trail Grants
Project Listing and Funding
Recommendations
| Item No. | Sponsor | Project Name | Project Description | Funds Requested | Funds Recommended | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank = High (5) | ||||||
| 1 | City of Waco | Nature Trail Improvements | New 1.2 mile nature trail, signs, benches, water | $9,680 | $9,680 | McLennan |
| 2 | USFS Sam Houston NF | Sam Houston Equestrian Trailhead | Restrooms and water at 4 multi-use trailheads | $100,000 | $100,000 | Walker |
| 3 | TPWD - Inks Lake SP | Pecan Flats Trail | Surface existing 1 mile trail, accessibility, restroom, signs | $49,800 | $49,800 | Burnet |
| 4 | TPWD - Fort Richardson SHP | Lost Creek Trail Bridge | Renovate historic railroad bridge, move it to existing trailway | $60,000 | $60,000 | Jack |
| 5 | San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance | Prospect Greenspace Trail | New .5 mile trail, signs, benches | $14,800 | $14,800 | Hays |
| 6 | Richard Allen Com. Dev. Corp. | Nolan Creek Trail | New .6 mile accessible, linear trail, benches | $50,930 | $50,930 | Bell |
| 7 | City of McKinney | Erwin Park Mountain Bike Trail | New .5 mile, renovate 7 miles of bike trails and restroom | $40,000 | $25,340 | Collin |
| 8 | City of Lubbock | Samuel Wahl Park | New 1.5 mile nature trail, accessiblity, signs | $100,000 | $100,000 | Garza |
| 9 | Lady Bird Wildflower Center | Savanna Meadows Trail | New .5 mile, renovate 1 mile of nature trails, signs | $51,635 | $51,635 | Travis |
| 10 | Cross Timbers Equestrian Assoc. | Lake Gapevine Natural Surface Tr. |
New 26 mile multi-use trail, bridge, signs, parking | $100,000 | $100,000 | Denton |
| 11 | City of Allen | The Woods at Suncreek Trail | New 1 mile concrete trail, signs, benches | $100,000 | $100,000 | Collin |
| 12 | USFS McClellan Cr. Nat. Grassland | Lake McLellan OHV Trail | Renovation of existing OHV area, signs | $49,650 | $24,750 | Gray |
| 13 | Texas Motorized Trails Coalition | Carta Valley OHV Area | Acquisition of 1470 acres to create new OHV area | $549,315 | $549,315 | Edwards |
| 14 | El Paso County | San Felipe OHV Park | Restroom, parking, fencing, water at existing county park | $400,000 | $320,000 | El Paso |
| 15 | Texas Trails Network | Trails Outreach | Conduct trail construction workshops, outreach tour | $50,000 | $40,000 | Statewide |
| 16 | Texas Bicycle Coalition | TMBRA's Kid's Kup Play Day | Bike safety and skills education | $7,250 | $5,330 | Statewide |
| Rank = Medium/High (4) | ||||||
| 17 | Wildcat Bluff Nature Center | Libb's Trail | New .5 mile nature trail, signs, benches, parking | $84,533 | $40,583 | Potter |
| 18 | City of Weslaco | South Park Trail | New 1.2 mile multi-use trail in city park | $53,144 | $53,144 | Hidalgo |
| 19 | TPWD - Gus Engeling WMA | Learning Center Trail | New 1.3 mile nature trail, bridge sings, benches | $95,440 | $52,000 | Anderson |
| 20 | Sienna Plantation MUD 2 | Sienna Plantation Levee Trail | New 1.1 mile granite trail, benches, signs, land acquisition | $100,000 | $100,000 | Harris |
| 21 | Pecan Grove MUD | Pecan Grove Jogging Trail | New 1.5 mile granite trail on MUD levee | $50,000 | $50,000 | Fort Bend |
| 22 | Montgomery County | Gwen Hruska Trail | New 1 mile hike/bike trail on FEMA buyout property | $97,014 | $97,014 | Montgomery |
| 23 | City of Mansfield | Mansfield McKnight Park Trail | New .5 mile concrete trail, renovate historic bridge | $82,000 | $82,000 | Tarrant |
| 24 | City of Houston | Hill at Sims Greenway | New 1 mile trail at mountain bike park | $100,000 | $89,440 | Harris |
| 25 | Harris County | Rio Villa Park Canoe Trail | New .66 mile nature trail, new canoe trail | $58,000 | $58,000 | Harris |
| 26 | East Texas Arboretum & Bot. Soc. | Trail rennovation | New 1.5 mile nature trail, bridges, accessibility | $26,330 | $26,330 | Henderson |
| 27 | Dallas County | Muddy Creek Trail | New 1 mile concrete trail, parking, signs, benches | $100,000 | $100,000 | Dallas |
| 28 | City of Crockett | Davy Crockett Fitness Trail | New 2.1 mile accessible trail, parking, restroom | $81,920 | $69,422 | Houston |
| 29 | City of Copperas Cove | Clear Creek Trail | New .8 mile asphalt hke/bike trail, benches, restroom | $100,000 | $100,000 | Coryell |
| 30 | Bexar Metropolitan Water Dist. | Medio Creek Nature Trail | New .75 mile nature trail | $5,084 | $5,084 | Bexar |
| 31 | City of Baytown | Cary Bayou Trail | New .5 mile accessible hike/bike trail, benches, water | $37,629 | $37,629 | Harris |
| 32 | City of Austin | Blunn Creek Nature Trail | Renovation for accessability, retaining wall, signing, | $22,353 | $9,882 | Travis |
| 33 | City of Arlington | O.S. Gray Park | New .65 mile nature trail in city park | $4,174 | $4,173 | Tarrant |
| 34 | Texas Motorized Trails Coalition | Barnwell Mountain OHV Area | Equipment to maintain existing OHV area | $82,196 | $52,875 | Upshur |
| 35 | Mackenzie Municipal Water Auth. | Lake Mackenzie | Tractor to maintain existing motorized trail area | $74,320 | $41,400 | Briscoe |
| $2,670,556 | ||||||
| Rank = Medium (3) | ||||||
| 36 | Univ. of Texas - Permian Basin | Hike and Bike Trails | Bridge and 300' of trail connecting other trails | $32,000 | $0 | Ector |
| 37 | USFS Sam Houston N. Forest | Office Trail | New 1 mile trail at ranger station | $16,000 | $0 | Walker |
| 38 | USFS Sam Houston N. Forest | Scott's Ridge Trail | New 2 mile asphalt trail | $40,000 | $0 | Montgomery |
| 39 | USFS Sam Houston N. Forest | Cagle recreation Area Trail | New 1 mile accessible trail, signs, benches | $57,600 | $0 | Walker |
| 40 | USFS Sam Houston N. Forest | Lone Star Hiking Trail | Bridge replacement, restroom, trail work | $100,000 | $0 | Walker |
| 41 | City of Southlake | Royal and Annie Smith Park Tr. | New .6 mile concrete trail in city park | $100,000 | $0 | Tarrant |
| 42 | City of Shoreacres | Shoreacres Trail System | New .3 mile granite trail | $24,288 | $0 | Harris |
| 43 | City of Richardson | Glenville/Apollo Trail | New .5 mile concrete trail, signs, bench | $100,000 | $0 | Dallas |
| 44 | Red River Valley Trail Riders | Pat Mayse Lake Trailhead | Trailhead campground | $39,480 | $0 | Lamar |
| 45 | City of Pearland | Pine Hollow Trail | New 2.2 mile granite trail | $100,000 | $0 | Brazoria |
| 46 | city of Pasadena | Armand Bayou Trailhead | New .4 mile trail, parking, water, signs | $99,190 | $0 | Harris |
| 47 | City of Nolanville | Nollanville Municipal Park Trail | New .75 mile hike/bike trail, water, benches, restroom | $100,000 | $0 | Bell |
| 48 | Town of Little Elm | Little Elm lakeside Trail | New .6 mile rubber trail, benches, fitness station | $100,000 | $0 | Denton |
| 49 | Liberty Institute | Overton Trail | New 3.2 mile multi-use trail | $36,200 | $0 | Lamar |
| 50 | City of Kenedy | Kenedy Recreational Trail | New .5 mile walking trail, parking, signs, benches | $75,720 | $0 | Karnes |
| 51 | Harris County Utility Dist. 15 | Greens Bayou Trail | New 1.3 mile granite trail, benches, signs | $81,100 | $0 | Harris |
| 52 | Harris County | George Bush Park Trail Extension | New .2 mile trail, observation deck, benches | $50,000 | $0 | Harris |
| 53 | Great Hills Neighborhood Park | Trail Improvements | Improve existing hike/bike trail, mulch and granite | $30,685 | $0 | Travis |
| 54 | El Paso County Water District #4 | Fabens O' Donnell Park Trail | New .75 mile hike/bike trail in a city park | $99,200 | $0 | El Paso |
| 55 | Crossroads Homeowners Assoc | Crossroads Park Trail | New .8 mile trail, bridge | $100,000 | $0 | Harris |
| 56 | City of Conroe | Avenue M Park Trail Construction | New .7 mile asphalt trail in city park | $128,000 | $0 | Harris |
| 57 | City of Colleyville | Sparger Park Trail Rehab | Replace .3 miles of existing worn-out trail | $70,358 | $0 | Tarrant |
| 58 | City of College Station | Veteran's Park Trail | New 1 mile concrete trail in city park | $95,040 | $0 | Brazos |
| 59 | Chinati Hot Springs, Inc. | Chinati Hot Springs Trail | New 7 mile hiking trail, restrooms, parking, tool shed, signs | $99,242 | $0 | Presidio |
| 60 | USFS Sam Houston N. Forest | Sam Houston Motorized Trail | Improvements to existing motorized trails | $100,000 | $0 | Walker |
| 61 | Texas Conservation Coalition | Texas Trails Ranch | Acquisition of 365 acres for motorized trail area | $329,225 | $0 | Eastland |
| Rank = Medium/Low (2) | ||||||
| 62 | Tablerock Festival of Salado | Tablerock Trail | Parking lot improvements for nature trail | $26,861 | $0 | Bell |
| 63 | International Exotic feline Sanct. | I.E.F.S. Nature Trail | New .2 mile trail, water fountains, benches | $14,360 | $0 | Wise |
| 64 | City of Granbury | Granbury Nature Center | Classroom building, roofing, water, signs | $62,440 | $0 | Hood |
| 65 | Brazos Animal Shelter, Inc. | Bark Park | New .5 mile long trail, fencing, benches | $99,500 | $0 | Brazos |
| 66 | Texas Motorized Trails Coalition | South Llano OHV Area | Acquisition of 2700 acres to create new OHV area | $343,180 | $0 | Terrell |
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