Jane Beshear Announces Over $1.8 Million for Recreational Trails Projects

Surfky.com

Governors Communication Office

15 February 2012 14:37

FRANKFORT, KY (2/15/12) – First Lady Jane Beshear joined Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet Secretary Marcheta Sparrow and Department for Local Government (DLG) Commissioner Tony Wilder to announce more than $1.8 million in grants to local communities to develop and maintain recreational trails across Kentucky.

The total of $1,849,648 in federal grant dollars will go to 38 applicants for hiking, biking, horseback riding and other types of trails as part of the Federal Highway Administration’s Recreational Trails Program (RTP). The applicants include city and county government as well as state and federal agencies.

“Developing Kentucky trails is instrumental in increasing overall adventure tourism efforts and boosting local economies throughout the state,” said Mrs. Beshear. “These federal funds help communities get trail projects off the ground so they can bring in tourism dollars and provide areas for their citizens to be active and live healthier lifestyles.”

At the event, Mrs. Beshear also recognized award recipients from last year’s Mid America Trails and Greenway (MATAG) conference. Lynda Bray Schaffer was recognized for being an outstanding volunteer to help expand trials in Kentucky and the Legacy Trail in Lexington was recognized for being and outstanding trail or greenway in Kentucky.

RTP is funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration. Kentucky’s RTP grants are administered by DLG and require that applicants match the amount of funds requested. The grants may be used to provide assistance for acquisition of easements; development and/or maintenance of recreational trails; and trailhead facilities for both motorized and non-motorized use. Examples of trail uses include hiking, bicycling, inline skating, equestrian use, off-road motorcycling and all-terrain vehicle riding.
FY11 applicants that have been approved for RTP project grants include:

Read more here:
http://surfky.com/index.php/component/content/article/235-statewide-kentucky-news/10784-jane-beshear-announces-over-18-million-for-recreational-trails-projects-