The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is a federal 80-20 matching reimbursement program for building and rehabilitating trails and trail-related facilities. The Federal Highway Administration and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funds make the program possible and mandate allocations to non-motorized, diversified and motorized trail categories.
Funding may be awarded to city, county, town, tribal or other government entities. Registered nonprofit groups partnered with a government body are also eligible. The Recreational Trails Program and Virginia Recreational Trails Program Advisory Committee steer project selections after a competitive call for applications.
The program currently accepts applications for new trail construction in even-year grant rounds (2022, 2024, etc.). Existing trail maintenance and amenity project applications are accepted every grant round but are most competitive in odd-year grant rounds.
The 2024 RTP grant round is open and accepting applications until May 7, 2024. Approximately $1.9 million in RTP funding is available. This year, both new trail construction and improvements to existing trails are eligible for funding.
Webinar: An informational webinar on the RTP program and this year’s eligibility and application processes was held on April 2, 2024.
Applications were accepted for the 2023 RTP grant round from March 16-May 9, 2023. Read the press release announcing the grant recipients from the 2023 RTP grant cycle. Only trail maintenance, repair and amenity projects on existing land and water trails were eligible for funding in this grant round.
Applications were accepted for the 2022 RTP grant round from March 28 - May 26, 2022. Read the press release announcing the grant recipients from the 2022 RTP Grant Cycle.
Applications were accepted for the 2021 RTP grant round from March 29 – June 30, 2021. Read the press release announcing the grant recipients from the 2021 RTP Grant Cycle.
Contact Recreation Grants staff at recreationgrants@dcr.virginia.gov, or call Recreation Grants Coordinator Kellie Seaton at 804-786-1119.
Please email recreationgrants@dcr.virginia.gov if you would like to be added to the contact list for grant round announcements.