Thompson Falls trail project receives substantial RTP grant

THOMPSON FALLS – Montana State Parks recently announced grants to various community projects through its annual Recreational Trails Program.

In total 60 trail organizations, communities and various land-managing agencies throughout Montana will receive federal Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant awards through the program.

Sanders County received one of the largest grants available through RTP, as a $90,000 grant was awarded to the Thompson Falls Community Trail Committee.

The grant money will go towards completing a trail between Thompson Falls State Park and downtown Thompson Falls.

According to a press release from Montana State Parks, a record 89 RTP applications were received this year from a variety of eligible applicants.

The RTP Program awards grants through an annual competitive application process.

Marketing and Communications Director Pat Doyle of Montana State Parks noted every year the largest grant awarded to a community is a $90,000 grant.

“Sanders County was the big recipient this year,” Doyle said.

A variety of projects are considered for the federal grants, ranging from construction and maintenance of trails, development of trailside and trailhead facilities, and avalanche education, training and interpretive programs.

Doyle stressed the grants go towards projects which cover a variety of outdoor recreation activities.

“We look for a wide variety of trail projects across the state,” Doyle said.

Funds for the program come from the Federal Highway Trust Fund, and represent a portion of the motor fuel excise tax collected from non-highway recreational fuel use; which includes fuel utilized by snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, off-highway motorcycles, and off-highway light trucks.

RTP funding is completely separate from all Montana State Parks revenues, camping fees and related funding sources.

Doyle noted the program is a great way for Montana State Parks to help out communities in various regions of the state.

“This program is something that is really big for us. It is an opportunity to transform recreational activities across the state,” Doyle said.

Applicants for RTP grants can include federal, tribal, state, county, city or private associations and clubs.

According to Montana State Parks, RTP funds are appropriated to various states through the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (Map-21) legislation passed by Congress in 2014 with extensions through the fiscal year of 2015.