25005 - *RECREATIONAL TRAILS PROGRAM - NON-MOTORIZED*
Funding Opportunity Details

Recreational Trails Program

Pre Application Deadline: Jan 11, 2026 11:59 PM

Final Application Deadline: Feb 1, 2026 11:59 PM

Description

• DEADLINE:

  Although these grants can be submitted at any time, they are required to be reviewed and approved by the Arizona State Parks Board. RTP grants must be completed and submitted by July 31, 2024 to be reviewed during the next Arizona State Parks Board meeting. Submissions after that date will be reviewed at a future Board meeting. 

  NOTE: IF STARTING A NEW APPLICATION PLEASE DO NOT CLICK "COPY AND EXISTING APPLICATION" AT THIS TIME. A PRE-APPLICATION IS REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICATIONS. CLICK "START A NEW APPLICATION. " 

  Non-Motorized Projects

  • Arizona State Parks (ASP) invites Federal, State, County, Tribal, Municipal and Non-Profit agencies to submit a grant application for non-motorized recreational trail uses.
  • Hiking, bicycling, in-line skating, equestrian use, cross-country skiing, acquisition projects, development and/or maintenance projects, purchase/lease recreational trails equipment, education.
  • Before entering into a Project Agreement, Grant Applicants (Also referred to as PROJECT SPONSORS) must have a shovel ready project.  Due to the application/review process, sponsors that are awarded funds in this cycle may not receive funding until the following January. 
  • Maximum allowable amount an applicant may request is $150,000.
  • 5.7% match. 

  There are currently three (3) Non-Motorized Funding Opportunities (Programs) available:

  1. Competitive Non-Motorized Program
  2. Trail Maintenance Program 
  3. Safety and Environmental Education (SEE)

  SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR ALL NON-MOTORIZED PROGRAMS:

  Federal (Recreational Trails Program)

  • Administered by Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Arizona Department of Transportation and Arizona State Parks and Trails.

  ELIGIBLE AGENCIES:

  • Federal, State, and Tribal agencies
  • Cities, Towns, Counties.
  • Third party applicants: Organizations can also develop agreements with eligible project sponsors (i.e. public land managers) to act as “third party” applicants.  Third party applicants may coordinate all phases of the project and receive direct reimbursement from State Parks with appropriate documentation from the eligible applicant/project sponsor.

  ELIGIBLE EXPENSES:

  • Development and/or maintenance of existing trails including trailheads and trail facilities.
  • Acquisition Projects, development and/or maintenance projects, purchase/lease recreational trails equipment, education.
  • Design and engineering costs incurred after the project agreement is executed are an eligible cost.
  • Projects for people with disabilities & aging populations.
  • Developing and coordinating youth development programs-actively inviting youth to participate in projects.

  NOT ELIGIBLE:

  • Cultural/environmental/archeological assessments are not eligible for reimbursement with Federal funds.
  • Trail Planning.
  • Landscaping and irrigation are not eligible scope items. Landscaping is defined as the addition of trees, bushes, shrubs, cacti, grass, flowers, or rock to enhance an area.
  • Development of local or regional plans is not eligible for funding.
  • Funds cannot be used for administrative or overhead costs, or costs associated with this grant application preparation.
  • Costs incurred prior to PROJECT APPROVAL are not eligible for funding. These may include: Costs associated with design and engineering are not eligible for reimbursement without prior approval.
  • Monies in the Recreational Trails Program shall not be used to construct new trails or routes on environmentally or culturally sensitive land unless the appropriate land management agency determines that certain new trail construction would benefit or protect cultural or sensitive sites. For the purposes of this subsection, “environmentally or culturally sensitive land” means areas of lands that are either:
  • Administratively or legislatively designated by the federal government as any of the following:

  (a) A national monument;

  (b) An area of critical environmental concern;

  (c) A conservation area; or

  (d) An inventoried road-less area.

  • Determined by the applicable land management agency to contain significant natural or cultural resources or values.

  HOW MANY APPLICATIONS CAN AN ENTITY SUBMIT PER CYCLE?

  1. An entity cannot apply for more than one grant in any competitive category.
  2. An entity can apply for one Competitive grant and one Supplemental Program grant.
  3. For policy purposes an applicant can apply for both a Competitive grant and a Supplemental grant. However, each application must be different in scope and location.  An applicant cannot submit for both hoping that at least part of the project be funded. If you are building a new 2-mile trail with kiosks, interpretive signs and printing new maps the project would all go in a competitive application.
  4. Each Forest Ranger District and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Field Office will be considered as a separate entity.