Gov. Nixon announces 18 trail projects in Missouri will receive federal grants totaling almost $1.5 million

Governor Nixon's office made the following announcement today:

 Trail projects in counties across the state will provide greater outdoor recreational opportunities, and reinforce Governors statewide Children in Nature Challenge and his initiative to increase attendance at Missouris state parks
 
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. Eighteen trail projects in Missouri will receive $1,489,777 total in federal grants, Gov. Jay Nixon announced today. The projects receiving the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grants are located in diverse areas of the state, including suburban communities, medium- and small-sized cities and towns, and in rural state parks and national forests. The Governor said the projects will reinforce both his statewide Children in Nature Challenge to get Missouri kids outdoors and his initiative to attract more visitors to Missouri state parks.
 
Trails are an ideal way for Missouri families to connect with one of our states greatest assets, our outdoor areas, Gov. Nixon said. The First Lady and I fully support ways to connect our citizens particularly children with all that Missouri has to offer in nature. These grants will help communities around the state expand those opportunities to benefit the physical, mental and emotional well-being of Missourians.
 
The trail projects (listed by county) and the grant amounts are:

  • (Benton County) Phase III of the Drake Harbor Trail project in Warsaw, $53,500;
  • (Boone County) Renovation of parking area and construction of an emergency access road at Finger Lakes State Park, $17,532;
  • (Boone County) Construction/renovation of Devils Icebox Trail at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, $59,100;
  • (Christian County) The Chadwick Motorcycle and ATV Trail System in the Mark Twain National Forest, $99,921;
  • (Cole County) Missouri State Penitentiary Greenway Trail, $317,060;
  • (Dent County) Renovation of trails at Flat Nasty Off-Road Park, $90,00;
  • (Dent County) Valley View Trail construction at Montauk State Park, $31,020;
  • (Gentry County) Connect and Keep Fit Trail in Albany, $99,914;
  • (Jasper County) Ruby Jack Trail Phase 3 by the Joplin Trails Coalition, $100,000;
  • (Nodaway County) Mozingo Recreational Trail project just outside Maryville, $99,000;
  • (Platte County) Prairie Creek Greenway by Platte County Parks and Recreation, $100,000;
  • (Reynolds County) Sutton Bluff renovation in the Mark Twain National Forest, $99,494;
  • (St. Francois County) Trail renovation by the Friends of St. Joe State Park, $27,749;
  • (St. Francois County) Childrens off-road-vehicle riding area in St. Joe State Park, $70,500;
  • (St. Francois County) Expansion of off-road-vehicle rinse station at St. Joe State Park, $90,000; and
  • (St. Louis County) Ruth Park Woods Trail construction in University City, $100,000.
 
In addition, these two statewide projects were awarded grants:
  • Katy Trail Education Project by the Missouri River Communities Network, $24,372; and
  • Curriculum for Natural Surface Trails by the Ozark Trail Association, $10,615.
 
The Recreational Trails Program is a federally funded program for trail-related land acquisition, development or restoration. In Missouri, those funds are administered by the Department of Natural Resources, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration.
 
The 18 grant recipients were chosen from 59 applications by the Missouri Trails Advisory Board, which represents diverse trail interest groups. Applicants are required to provide a match of at least 20 percent to receive funding. A funding requirement for the grants targets 30 percent of the funding for motorized trails, 30 percent for non-motorized trails and 40 percent for diversified trail use.
 
The Governor announced last month that attendance at Missouris 85 state parks and historic sites for 2009 had increased by six percent, halting a 10-year decline in attendance. Gov. Nixon has undertaken several projects to boost attendance, and the trail projects in the parks will help bring even more visitors, he said.
 
Also last month, the Governor and Mrs. Nixon launched the Children in Nature Challenge, an initiative created by executive order that directs state agencies to encourage Missouri communities to give children more opportunities to learn about and experience nature first-hand in all parts of the state. Trails are a key part of connecting families with nature, Gov. Nixon said.
 
Below is a more detailed description of each project:
  • Phase III of the Drake Harbor Trail project will construct a concrete connecting trail for completion of the trail. The grant was awarded to the city of Warsaw.
  • The project at Finger Lakes State Park will construct an emergency access road from the county road to the motocross track area to allow quicker access for emergency vehicles, and will renovate the parking area to better accommodate vehicles.
  • The project at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park will complete three sections of the Devils Icebox Trail with a boardwalk providing a continuous loop. The new section will include three educational panels and an overlook.
  • The Chadwick Trails project will renovate 15 miles of motorcycle and ATV trails in the Mark Twain National Forest near Chadwick in Christian County.
  • The Missouri State Penitentiary Greenway project will construct six miles of trail near the Missouri River on the historic grounds of the old state prison to Ellis Porter/Riverside Park. The grant was awarded to the Office of Administration.
  • The project at Flat Nasty Off-Road Park in Dent County will renovate nine miles of motorized trails at the site. The renovation will include best management practices to protect water quality in the area.
  • The Valley View Trail project at Montauk State Park will add an asphalt trail to the existing trail to increase accessibility between the park lodge and the old gristmill.
  • The Connect and Keep Fit Trail in Albany, a bicycling/pedestrian trail, will connect the downtown of Albany with ball and soccer fields, the Aquatic Center, the Community Center and other sites. The grant was awarded to the city of Albany
  • When completed, the Ruby Jack Trail will run from Carthage through Oronogo and Carl Junction and on to the Kansas state line. The grant for eight miles of trail, parking and benches was awarded to the Joplin Trails Coalition.
  • The 3.5-mile Mozingo Recreational Trail will run through Mozingo Lake Park, just outside Maryville. The grant for trail and restroom construction was awarded to the city of Maryville. 
  • The Prairie Creek Greenway project will add 1.1 miles of trail to the existing 4.5-mile multi-use trail for bicyclists and pedestrians in the Platte City area.
  • The Sutton Bluff trails in the Mark Twain National Forest are a series of trails for all-terrain vehicles. The grant project will construct 14.5 miles of trails and repair approximately 25 miles of trails.
  • Three projects will be funded at St. Joe State Park. Funding for the Friends of St. Joe State Park project will renovate four miles of trail and purchase a four-wheel drive ATV with attachments. 
  • The grants to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources will design and construct a special off-road vehicle area for safe use by children; construct a half-mile natural surface trail; renovate the parking area, shelter, observation posts, benches and signs; and renovate the current rinse station and construct a new rinse station for off-road vehicles.
  • The grant to University City will construct .8 miles of the Ruth Park Woods Trail as part of the Centennial Greenway linking St. Charles and St. Louis counties with the city of St. Louis.
  • The Missouri River Communities Network will use its grant to develop brochure and Web site information, including eight educational workshops in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the Katy Trail State Park. 
  • The Ozark Trail Association will use its grant for the development of a standardized trail construction and maintenance manual to assist people in building natural surface trails. The grant will help fund field training as well.
  

 

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