Commission Agenda Item 7
May 23, 2024
- Item Type: Action
- Presenter: Chris Sheffield
Texas Statewide Recreational Trail Grants Funding – Recommended Approval of Trail Construction, Renovation, and Acquisition Projects
I. Executive Summary:
Staff seeks approval from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (Commission) to award federal and state funds allocated under the National Recreational Trails Fund (NRTF) grants for trail construction, renovation, and acquisition projects. This approval obligates federal NRTF money to eligible trail projects based upon the recommendations of the Texas Statewide Trails Advisory Committee.
II. Discussion:
The NRTF is funded by a portion of the federal gas tax generated by gasoline purchases to utilize off-highway vehicles, such as off-road motorcycles and four-wheelers, for recreation. The purpose of the NRTF is to provide funding for projects that create new and maintain existing motorized and non-motorized recreational trails. These federal funds are administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and distributed to states via a formula that considers state population and sales of fuel for off-road recreational vehicles. Nationwide, $85 million was appropriated for the program for federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2024; Texas’ share of these funds is $3,954,874. Seven percent of the state’s annual apportionment ($279,638) is utilized to cover costs to administer the program, leaving $3,675,236 to fund projects. The Texas Legislature has added an additional $1,000,000 per year to the program and may include additional funds for this year from Sporting Goods Sales Tax funds. Several projects funded in previous years were completed under budget and five projects were cancelled, creating another $900,000 available for re-allocation this year. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has been utilizing the re-allocated funding to fund trail improvements in state parks. The result is a total of $5,854,874 of federal and state funding available to fund eligible trail projects.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, as enacted in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, created this funding source and stipulates that states must have a trails advisory committee made up of various trail user-group representatives to be eligible to receive the federal and state funds. The purpose of the trails advisory committee is to provide guidance in the distribution of these funds.
Local sponsors must submit trail funding proposals by February 1 of each year. This year, 46 projects were submitted for funding consideration, requesting $10,169,457 in funds. The nine-member Texas Statewide Trails Advisory Committee met in March 2024 to review the submitted trail project applications and develop a list of recommended projects for funding. Each project was reviewed by the advisory committee and scored based on the quality of the project, its cost effectiveness, its impact on recreational trail opportunities, and the geographic distribution of funds. The Texas Statewide Trails Advisory Committee recommended funding 16 of the projects, totaling $3,671,666 of funding assistance. If additional funding becomes available, additional projects may be funded. Exhibit A contains the list of submitted projects, with funds requested, project descriptions, project scoring, and advisory committee funding recommendations.
The NRTF requires that 30 percent of the federal funds be spent on motorized recreational trail projects, 30 percent be spent on non-motorized trail projects, and the remaining 40 percent be designated as discretionary. Because few public park entities in Texas provide opportunities for motorized trail riding, it is typically difficult to generate enough motorized trail proposals to meet the 30 percent motorized trail requirement. As such, the grant funding limit for motorized proposals is $500,000 per project versus $300,000 for non-motorized proposals. Additionally, up to five percent may be used to fund educational projects.
III. Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the Commission adopt the following motions:
Motion 1: “The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approves funding for the 16 construction projects in the amount of $3,671,666, as listed in Exhibit A, and for state park trail improvements in the amount of $900,000.”
Motion 2: “The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approves funding for projects listed in Exhibit A in the amount of additional NRTF funding that is made available in the current fiscal year.”
Exhibit A – Commission Agenda Item No. 7
|
Score |
Sponsor Name |
Project Name |
Project City |
Project County |
Federal Funds Requested |
Federal Funds Recommended |
Project Summary |
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|
54 |
Texas Motorized Trails Coalition |
Escondido Draw Recreation Area 2024 Projects |
Ozona |
Crockett County |
$260,000.00 |
$260,000.00 |
Renovation and construction of new and existing trails, signage, trailside bathroom, resource surveys, property surveys, professional services, and equipment rental. |
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|
54 |
TPWD |
Palo Pinto Mountains State Park |
Strawn |
Palo Pinto County |
$300,000.00 |
$300,000.00 |
Construction of 6 additional miles of multi-use natural surface trail at State Park site. |
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|
54 |
TPWD |
Albert and Bessie Kronkosky State Natural Area |
Pipe Creek |
Bandera County |
$300,000.00 |
$300,000.00 |
Construction of 6 miles of natural surface trail at State Natural Area site. |
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|
53 |
Sam Houston Trails Coalition, Inc. |
2024 SHTC Equipment Grant |
Montgomery |
Montgomery County |
$96,000.00 |
$96,000.00 |
Purchase of a multi-functional track loader (includes pallet forks, blade/angle, and brush mower) and utility trailer to haul the track loader. |
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|
53 |
Texas Motorized Trails Coalition |
Escondido Draw Recreation Area - Trails Maintenance Equipment |
Ozona |
Crockett County |
$108,000.00 |
$108,000.00 |
Purchase of trail maintenance equipment, trail vehicles, equipment repair services, equipment parts, and hand tools. |
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51 |
Ecology Action of Texas |
Country Club Creek East Riparian Trail Enhancement Project |
Austin |
Travis County |
$148,552.00 |
$148,552.00 |
Construction of .33 mile of puncheon pathway, new steps from Atwood trailhead, and signage. Renovation of 2 miles of trail in Circle Acres and Guerrero Park. |
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|
50 |
Texas State University |
San Marcos Outer Loop Trail - Freeman Ranch Segment |
San Marcos |
Hays County |
$135,740.00 |
$135,740.00 |
Construction of .95 mile multi-use natural surface trail. |
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|
46 |
Hays County |
San Marcos Outer Loop Trail – Presa Grande Segment |
San Marcos |
Hays County |
$300,000.00 |
$300,000.00 |
Construction of a new 1.80-mile 5’ wide multi-use natural surface trail, including benches, a bridge, and a trailhead kiosk. |
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|
46 |
Jefferson |
Jefferson Recreational Trail(s) Rehabilitation Project |
Jefferson |
Marion County |
$300,000.00 |
$300,000.00 |
Renovation and repair of an existing 1.2 miles of decomposed granite recreational trail(s) and boardwalk. |
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|
46 |
Laredo |
Santa Fe Park Hike & Bike Trails Phase 1 |
Laredo |
Webb County |
$300,000.00 |
$300,000.00 |
Construction of .62 mile of multiuse asphalt trail with concrete bridge, header, and retaining walls. New trail will be 100 barrier-free & ADA compatible. |
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|
45 |
Great Springs Project |
Emerald Crown Trail – Freedom Segment |
Kyle |
Hays County |
$298,640.00 |
$298,640.00 |
Construction of a new 1.41-mile, 8’ wide multi-use decomposed granite trail. |
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|
45 |
Longhorn Council BSA |
Camp Tahuaya Family Adventure Interpretive Trails Project |
Belton |
Bell County |
$280,148.00 |
$280,148.00 |
Renovation and development of 3.25 miles of interpretive trails, including wayfinding and locations of interest signage and the development of an education pavilion. |
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|
45 |
Madisonville |
Lake Madison Trail |
Madisonville |
Madison County |
$300,000.00 |
$300,000.00 |
Renovation of 5,801' trail and construction of 4199' crushed limestone trail; including 1/2 mile markers, 1 ADA crossing with ramp & striping, xeriscaping native plants throughout length. |
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44 |
Eagle Lake |
Eagle Lake / David Winterman Wildlife Area Recreational Walking Trail Construction (Phase 1) |
Eagle Lake |
Colorado County |
$294,040.00 |
$294,040.00 |
Construction of .23 mile trail, 834 linear feet boardwalk, wildlife viewing platform, and signage. |
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|
44 |
Pecos City |
Maxey Park Trails |
Pecos |
Reeves County |
$66,546.00 |
$66,546.00 |
Construction of .63 miles of decomposed granite trail. |
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41 |
Coastal Prairie Conservancy |
Blazing Star Trail |
Brookshire |
Waller County |
$184,000.00 |
$184,000.00 |
Construction of a new .53 mile boardwalk. |
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RECOMMENDED IF FUNDING BECOMES AVAILABLE FROM SPORTING GOODS SALES TAXES OR FEDERAL FUNDING.
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39 |
Atlanta |
Atlanta City Park Multiuse Trail |
Atlanta |
Cass County |
$239,040.00 |
$0.00 |
Construction of .6 mile multi-use asphalt trail with signage and ADA parking |
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39 |
Buda |
Onion Creek Trail - City Park Segment |
Buda |
Hays County |
$300,000.00 |
$0.00 |
Construction of .43 miles of multi-use concrete trail. |
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39 |
Cleburne |
Kirtley Park Trails |
Cleburne |
Johnson County |
$300,000.00 |
$0.00 |
Construction of 1.2-miles of new multi-use concrete trail. |
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38 |
Anthem MUD |
Emerald Crown Trail – Anthem Segment |
Kyle |
Hays County |
$297,200.00 |
$0.00 |
Construction of 1.4-mile multi-use decomposed granite trail |
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38 |
Brazoria County - Parks Department |
Brazoria County Parks Department Headquarters Trail System |
Angleton |
Brazoria County |
$228,400.00 |
$0.00 |
Construction of 5,800' (4” crushed concrete/2” decomposed granite) trail; renovation of 1,800' trail. Amenities: 5 benches; CXT duplex concrete restroom; signage |
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38 |
Garden Ridge |
Paul Davis Park Trail |
Garden Ridge |
Comal County |
$133,499.00 |
$0.00 |
Construction of .56-mile of natural surface trail. |
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38 |
Texas Bicycle Coalition, dba BikeTexas |
Project Name: Mile Zero Trailhead and Trail-side Facilities |
Austin |
Travis County |
$168,828.00 |
$0.00 |
Construction of trailhead with multi-use water fountain, two bathrooms, surface improvements, bike repair station, and trail use counter. |
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35 |
Tool |
The Eight at Tool City Park |
Tool |
Henderson County |
$238,917.00 |
$0.00 |
Construction of .58 miles of trail. |
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34 |
Celina |
Wilson Creek Park Trail |
Celina |
Collin County |
$300,000.00 |
$0.00 |
Construction of 1 mile of ADA-accessible decomposed granite (DG) trails with low water crossings, a pedestrian and bicycle bridge, benches, trash bins, and signage. |
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34 |
East Texas Arboretum and Botanical Society |
Safety and Security Enhancements |
Athens |
Henderson County |
$80,260.00 |
$0.00 |
Construction of 7,465 linear feet of feral hog-exclusion fencing to protect existing natural surface trail, trail repair, and signage. |
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34 |
Harlingen |
Vestal Trail |
Harlingen |
Cameron County |
$254,751.00 |
$0.00 |
Construction of a .62-mile, 9’ wide asphalt trail with benches, solar lighting, emergency call stations, and user counter. |
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33 |
Fate |
Fate Station Park Trail |
Fate |
Rockwall County |
$240,000.00 |
$0.00 |
Construction of .4 miles of accessible multi-use concrete trail. |
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33 |
Lake Jackson - Parks & Recreation |
City of Lake Jackson Timbercreek Park Nature Trail |
Lake Jackson |
Brazoria County |
$102,520.00 |
$0.00 |
Construction of a new .30 mile, 9' wide asphalt trail with benches and informational signage. |
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33 |
Longview |
Phase II Trails at the Longview Arboretum and Nature Center |
Longview |
Gregg County |
$299,126.00 |
$0.00 |
Construction of 1,094' of concrete, ADA-accessible trails through various ecological representations of East Texas. |
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33 |
Mount Houston Road MUD |
Westview Landing Pond Improvements, Phase 1 |
Houston |
Harris County |
$300,000.00 |
$0.00 |
Construction of 1.27 miles of concrete trail with 6 benches, 4 trash receptacles/ pet waste stations, and 4 interpretive signs. |
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33 |
Vernon |
Camp Cheromanche Trail |
Vernon |
Wilbarger County |
$115,530.00 |
$0.00 |
Construction of .31 mile multi-use trail including signage, benches, picnic tables, and interpretation areas. |
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29 |
Houston Parks Board |
Drinking Fountains along Bayou Greenways |
Houston |
Harris County |
$300,000.00 |
$0.00 |
Installation of 25 drinking fountains along 150-mile Bayou Greenway multi-use trail network. |
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28 |
Austin - Parks and Recreation Department |
Upper Bull Creek Greenbelt - Trailhead Development |
Austin |
Travis County |
$300,000.00 |
$0.00 |
Trailhead development with picnic pavilion, rain garden, drinking fountain, new furniture, utilities, 20-30 space parking lot, and signage. |
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28 |
North Richland Hills |
City Point Trail - North Richland Hills |
North Richland Hills |
Tarrant County |
$198,902.00 |
$0.00 |
Construction of .27 miles of accessible concrete hike and bike trail. |
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26 |
Port Isabel |
Laguna Heights Walking Trail |
Port Isabel |
Cameron County |
$300,000.00 |
$0.00 |
Construction of 1,560' concrete multi-use trail with ADA ramps and crosswalks, vehicle exclusion bollards, safety & interpretive signage, and benches. |
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25 |
Arlington Parks and Recreation |
Lana Wolff Linear Park Trail |
Arlington |
Tarrant County |
$299,990.00 |
$0.00 |
Construction of 1,331' concrete trail with benches, trash receptacles, plantings, irrigation, and a flashing street signal pedestrian crosswalk with handicap accessible ramps. |
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25 |
The Colony |
Park Loop Trail Segment 1A Shared-Use Trail |
The Colony |
Denton County |
$296,573.00 |
$0.00 |
Construction of .4 mile 10’ wide concrete trail with improvements to subsurface drainage, benches, signs, bike rack, trash receptacles and a .20 mile "track". |
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24 |
Tyler |
Windsor Grove Nature Park and Trail |
Tyler |
Smith County |
$265,000.00 |
$0.00 |
Renovation of .25 mile multi-use trail with accessible surfacing, benches, picnic tables, trailhead, signage, bike racks, water fountains, pet waste stations, and trash receptacles. |
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20 |
College Station |
Spring Creek Trail Extension |
College Station |
Brazos County |
$299,728.00 |
$0.00 |
Construction of accessible .19-mile concrete shared use trail extension including a prefabricated steel bridge, benches, and signage. |
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18 |
Dimmit County |
Dimmit County Recreational Trails |
Carrizo Springs |
Dimmit County |
$40,000.00 |
$0.00 |
Renovation of existing equestrian trail with bridge replacement and volunteer training. |
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15 |
Cibolo |
Tolle Nature Center Recreational Trails Project |
Cibolo |
Guadalupe County |
$199,587.00 |
$0.00 |
Construction of 1.5 miles of natural surface trail, in three segments, with signage and safety features. |
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12 |
Greenspace Dallas |
L.B. Houston Wildwood Drive Renovation Project |
Dallas |
Dallas County |
$65,329.00 |
$0.00 |
Removal of 3 wooden bridges in disrepair. Renovation of .75 miles of trail. Remove 6 acres of invasive species. |
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9 |
Colleyville |
Bransford Road Shared-Use Path |
Colleyville |
Tarrant County |
$146,611.00 |
$0.00 |
Construction of .60 mile new multi-use concrete trail. |
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9 |
Premont |
Cora Park Recreational Trails |
Premont |
Jim Wells County |
$188,000.00 |
$0.00 |
Construction of 1.5 miles of natural surface trail, signage, safety features. (Three trails: Small Trail: Length: .46 miles; Length: .64 miles; Large Trail: Length: 1.14 miles) |
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0 |
Julia C. Hester House |
Julia C. Hester House |
Houston |
Harris County |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
Renovation of exterior facade, pedestrian walking area, and playground around historic site. |
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*Projects in bold indicate motorized request* Total Requests = $10,169,457 |
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Total Recommended = $3,671,666 |
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*Projects in bold indicate motorized request* Total Requests = $10,169,457
Total Recommended = $3,671,666