Recreational Trails Program
The Division announced the selection of new grant projects in March 2013. A news release, which you can view here, gives information about the projects selected and the amounts awarded. A new grant cycle is planned to begin in the fall of 2013.

Recreational Trails Program

Welcome to Georgia Trails and Greenways! Our office coordinates Georgia’s Recreational Trails Program (referred to frequently as “RTP”), which provides funding for trail construction, trail maintenance and trail education.

Although we are housed within the state Division of Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites, the Recreational Trails Program awards grants to city governments, county governments, federal agencies, authorized commissions, as well as state agencies.

Click on a topic below for more information.

Recreational Trails Program Overview
Advisory Committee
Grant Application
Trail Education
Links
Pogo Info
Contact Us

Recreational Trails Program Overview

The RTP is a grant program. The United States Congress appropriates funding for the Program, and the Federal Highway Administration manages the Program, but it is administered at the state level. In Georgia, administration is handled by staff of the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites.

The purpose of the RTP is to provide and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities identified in, or that further a specific goal of, the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP).

Grants are generally awarded on an annual basis after the following process is complete: applicants submit their applications, Program staff rank the applications, the Trails and Greenways Advisory Committee reviews them, the Director of the Division of Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites reviews them, and the Federal Highway Administration approves them.

You can see how Georgia’s funding level compares to that of other states by going to www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/recfunds.htm.

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Advisory Committee

A committee of individuals interested in Georgia trails advises Program staff on policy issues and potential grant awards. The committee meets at least once a year. Meetings are open to the public, and reports of the minutes are available from Program staff. The current members of the committee are listed below. You can contact them by way of the Program staff, whose contact information is here.

HIKERS
Todd Gordon - Georgia Appalachian Trail Club
Second position vacant

BICYCLISTS
Keith Owen - Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association
Second position vacant

OFF-ROAD VEHICLE USERS
Dave Logan - Southern Four Wheel Drive Assocation
Bruce Dreher - Georgia Recreational Trail Riders Association

EQUESTRIANS
Larry Wheat - Back Country Horsemen of North Georgia
Debbie Crowe - Chattahoochee Trail Horse Association

WATER TRAIL USERS
Dan MacIntyre, Georgia Canoe Association

GREENWAYS USERS
Diane Cochran - Chattahoochee Trail Horse Association
Greta DeMayo - Fulton County
Carlton E. Harris - Lumpkin County

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Grant Application

Applications and awards are generally made in accordance with an annual grant cycle. We will initiate a new grant cycle in the fall of 2013.

Trail Education

The RTP legislation permits Georgia to use five percent of its RTP funds for educational efforts. The Program currently funds the position of Trails Education Specialist at Gainesville College. Please contact Mr. Walter Bready at 404-423-7257 for more details about the courses offered. The schedule for upcoming classes is as follows:

Winter 2013:
• Design and layout: January 19, February 16 and March 9, 2013
• Construction and Maintenance: January 20, February 17, and March 10, 2013
• Crew Leader Training: January 26, February 23, and March 16, 2013

The Program has also funded trail signs, maps and other efforts. If you have an idea for statewide efforts to educate interested persons about trail design, construction, or maintenance, please call Program staff at 404-656-3830. Recipients of funding for educational projects must be governmental entities: city governments, county governments, federal agencies, authorized commissions, or state agencies.

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Links

www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/ ~~ The Federal Highway Administration’s website for the Recreational Trails Program. This site includes information on how the Program is financed and whom to contact at the federal level and in other states.

rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/391/5/13/03.pdf ~~ These are the state regulations governing the grant program, posted on the Georgia Secretary of State’s website.

gastateparks.org/net/content/go.aspx?s=132975.0.1.5 ~~ This is the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, as posted by the state Division of Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites.

Pogo Info

Walt Kelly’s famous cartoon possum has served (with permission) as the ambassador for Georgia Trails and Greenways since 1993.

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Contact Us:

To contact RTP staff:
Telephone: 770-389-7274
E-mail: bryan.alexander@gadnr.org
Fax: 770-389-7272
Mail: Trails & Greenways
Division of State Parks
2600 Hwy. 155, Suite C, Stockbridge, GA 30281

To contact the State Division of
Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites:
1-800-864-7275 ~~ Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Headquarters:
Telephone: 770-389-7274 (Mon– Fri, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
Fax: 770-389-7272
E-mail: Go to www.gastateparks.org and click on
“Contact Us” at bottom of web page.
Mail: Division of State Parks & Historic Sites
2600 Hwy. 155, SW, Suite C
Stockbridge, GA 30281

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