Recreational Trails Program (RTP)

Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is sponsored by North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department (administered at the state level, funded federally by U.S. Federal Highway Administration). The Recreational Trails Program provides matching grants for the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of multi-use trails and related facilities.

While primarily focused on trails, some related facilities might be considered depending on the scope.

Recreational Trails Program | ND Parks and Recreation - Business and Grants Recreational Trails Program Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Applicant Presentation Meeting Tuesday, April 21 at 1:00 p. m. Recreational Trails Program Timeline The Recreational Trails Program is an 80/20 matching grant program that provides funding for both motorized and non-motorized recreational trail projects.

Examples of eligible projects include the construction of new recreation trails, restoration of existing trails, development and rehabilitation of trailside and trailhead facilities and trail linkages, purchase and lease of recreational trail construction and maintenance equipment, land acquisition/easements, trail accessibility assessment.

The RTP is administered at the state level through the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department (NDPRD), and federally through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Applicants may request grant amounts ranging from a minimum of $30,000 up to a maximum of $250,000.

The following entities are eligible and may apply: Cities, counties, and townships Park boards and park districts State and federal agencies Registered non-profit organizations Federally-recognized Indian tribes Please note: Only federal, state and municipal agencies qualify for funding of equipment for recreational trail construction and maintenance.

Applicants must register in WebGrants to submit applications; see the manual for instructions. Apply on the WebGrants Site . The North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department (NDPRD) reviews all applications for eligibility before sending them to be scored and ranked by the Recreational Trails Program Advisory Committee (RTPAC).

The committee, which consists of trail users who represent a broad range of motorized and non-motorized trails and associations, meets each spring to evaluate the projects. Once projects are ranked by the RTPAC, they are reviewed by state and federal agencies for environmental and historical clearance. The NDPRD then submits projects to the Federal Highway Administration for final approval.

The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is a federal-aid assistance program to help states provide and maintain recreational trails for both motorized and non-motorized trail use.

The program provides funds for all kinds of recreational trail uses, such as pedestrian uses (hiking, running and wheelchair use), bicycling, in-line skating, equestrian use, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, canoe/kayak trails, off-road motorcycling, all-terrain vehicle riding, four-wheel driving, or using other off-road motorized vehicles.

The RTP funds come from the Federal Highway Trust Fund and represent a portion of the motor fuel excise tax collected from non-highway recreational fuel use: fuel used for off-highway recreation by snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, off-highway motorcycles, and off-highway light trucks. The U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (USDOT/FHWA) administers the RTP program.

The Governor of the state of North Dakota has designated the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department (NDPRD) as the agency responsible for administering apportionments made to the state. RTP funds represent a portion of the federal gasoline tax attributed to recreation on non-gasoline tax-supported roads. The federal government prescribes many of the regulations governing this program.

Sponsors who are Title VI compliant may coordinate bidding and procurement on their own. Sponsors must follow the original procurement process for reimbursement. All bidding, procurement, and construction must adhere to Title VI requirements.

Local sponsors must pay all project costs upfront and then request reimbursement. Partial reimbursement may be requested as soon as possible or at least every six months. RTP grants reimburse up to 80% of the total project cost.

Project sponsors will not be reimbursed for costs that are incurred before an application is approved and a local grant agreement is signed. NOTE: At the time of application, the project sponsor must have at least 20% of the total project cost available to meet the match requirements. The local share may include tax sources, bond issues, force account contributions, donated labor, equipment, and materials.

Funded North Dakota Recreational Trails Program Projects by year awarded: City of Flasher – Historical and Recreational Trail Project Lincoln Park District – 66 th Street South Pathway Watford City Park District – Multi-use Trail NDPRD – Snowmobile North Dakota Trail Grooming NDPRD – Summer Trail Equipment Grafton Parks and Recreation – Leistikow Park Bridge Dickinson Parks and Recreation – Crooked Crane Trail Stranski Segment Fargo Park District – Lion’s Conservancy Park Trailhead Facility Project NDPRD – Little Missouri State Park Reimagined Stutsman County – James River Valley Water Trail Minot Park District – Outdoor Recreation Area Phase II Lincoln Park District – Moch Park Trail Barnes County – North Country Trail Amenities MDHTA – Maah Daah Hey Trail Restoration 2023 Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa – Sky Chief Park Trail Linkage Fargo Park District – Orchard Glen/Forest River Park Trail Extension Morton County – Valerie Entzel Memorial Park New Salem Park Board – Multiuse Path Renovation NDPRD – Pembina Gorge State Recreation Area Armoring and Widening NDPRD – Comprehensive State Trails Assessment Maah Daah Hey Trail Association – White Butte Trail Restoration and Surfacing Maah Daah Hey Trail Association – Coal Creek Loop Trail 2023 Williston Parks and Recreation – Little Muddy Trail Improvements and Beautification Williams County Parks – Lake Loop Trail at Blacktail Dam Hunter/Arthur JPA – Northern Cass Pass Amenities Turtle Lake North Country Trail – Riding Brush Mowers Grafton Parks and Recreation – Leistikow Community Trails Bismarck Parks and Recreation District – Cross Country Ski Trail Groomers NDPRD – Snowmobile Trail Grooming Equipment NDPRD – Icelandic State Park Heritage Connection Trail Maah Daah Hey Trail Association – Buffalo Gap Trail Restoration 2022 NDPRD – Trail Maintenance Equipment Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa – Turtle Mountain ATV Trailside Facilities Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation – Pancratz Trail Maah Daah Hey Trail Association – Coal Creek 2022 Barnes County – Sheyenne River Water Trail NDPRD – Snowmobile Program Equipment USDA Forest Service - Maah Daah Hey Pioneer Gulch Reroute Barnes County Park Board - Riding Brush Mower NDPRD - Lewis & Clark Prairie Nature Trail NDPRD - Motorized Recreation Equipment Maah Daah Hey Trail Association - Coal Creek Restoration & Surfacing Maah Daah Hey Trail Association - Sully Restoration and Surfacing Hunter/Arthur JPA Park Board - Northern Cass Pass•City of Harvey - Pedestrian Pathway Bottineau Park District – Forestry Park Trail Phase IV Bismarck Parks and Recreation District – Sibley Hiking Trail Bureau of Land Management – Schnell Ranch Recreation Area Trial Hunter/Arthur JPA Park Board – Northern Cass Pass Maah Daah Hey Trail Association – Sully Restoration City of Rolla – The Legacy Path Pembina Gorge Foundation – Mountain Bike Trail Phase II NDPRD – Lake Metigoshe State Park D Loop Dock NDPRD – Winter Trail Grooming Equipment USDA Forest Service – Maah Daah Hey Trail Restoration USDA Forest Service – Buffalo Gap Trail SND – Program Upgrades 2019 Barnes County Soil Conservation District – Riparian Park City of Lincoln – Lincoln Shared Use Path Hunter/Arthur JPA Park Board – Northern Cass Pass NDPRD – Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park Trail NDPRD – Kayak Accessibility Project Morton County Water Resource Board – Harmon Lake Recreation Area Trail Expansion Morton County Parks – Lewis and Clark Trailside Facilities (Enzel Acres Park) Devils Lake Park Board – Devils Lake Bike Path Restoration USDA Forest Service – Maah Daah Hey Trail Improvements SND – Program Upgrades 2019 City of Belfield – Belfield Dam Walking/Bike Trail Restoration City of Cavalier – Cavlandic Trail Hunter/Arthur JPA Park Board – Northern Cass Pass Rails to Trails City of Horace – County Road 17 Shared Use Path Phase I NDPRD – Turtle River State Park Trails NDPRD – Turtle Mountain State Forest Fargo Park District – Urban Woods and Prairies Path USDA Forest Service – Maah Daah Hey Trail Restoration SND – Program Upgrades 2018 Bottineau Park District – Forestry Park Trail Phase II Hunter/Arthur JPA Park Board – Northern Cass Pass Rails to Trails Minot Park District – Woodland Trail Phase II NDPRD – Pembina Gorge Trail Link to Frost Fire NDPRD – Pembina Gorge Mountain Bike Trail NDPRD – Turtle River State Park Trail SND – Program Upgrades 2017 USDA Forest Service – Maah Daah Hey and Buffalo Gap Trail Surfacing and Restoration Bismarck Parks and Recreation District – Sunrise Shared Use Path-Hitchcock to Northrop Cass County Commission – County Road 28 Shared Use Path Casselton Park District – Tinta Tawa Park Resurfacing Hunter/Arthur JPA Park Board – Northern Cass Pass Rails to Trails NDPRD – Pembina Gorge Trailhead Overlook SND – Program Upgrades 2016 USDA Forest Service – Maah Daah Hey Surfacing and Restoration USDA Forest Service – North Country Trail Extension Bismarck Parks and Recreation District – Edgewood Shared Use Path-East Segment II City of Beach – Multi-Use Path Phase II City of Milnor – Multi-Use Path to Park/Pool SND – Program Upgrades 2015 USDA Forest Service – Maah Daah Hey 2015 Watford City Park District – Koser Field Walking Path Recreation Trails Program Manual Open Project Selection Process 2023-2027 SCORP Trail Needs In-kind Labor Tracking Sheet Grant Program Progress Report Recreational Trails Program Overview Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ensures that no person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination, including sex, age, disability, low-income, or LEP discrimination, under any program or activity for which the Recipient receives Federal financial assistance.

It is the policy of the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department to ensure compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and all related statutes or regulations in all programs and activities.

Title VI and Nondiscrimination Program Manual Featured Completed RTP Project Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa: ATV Trailside Facilities The use of off-highway vehicles (OHV) for both utility and recreation has grown in North Dakota, particularly in the northwest region where the Turtle Mountain landscape attracts trail riders.

The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Tribe secured a Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant in 2021 to enhance their ATV trail near Belcourt. The grant facilitated the installation of two vault toilets and resurfacing of the trail parking lot on the 8. 87-mile TMBC ATV Trail, which connects to the 12-mile North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department trail.

The trail features various paths, including the Tyler Grant Memorial Trail, Wakopa Recreational Trail, and Silver Bullet Trail.