The Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT) has once again issued a call for nominations for outstanding projects that utilized funds from the Recreational Trails Program (RTP). Please read the letter below and if you are aware of any completed award-worthy RTP projects fill out this nomination form. The CRT not only recognizes great projects, it also raises the profile of RTP on Capitol Hill, which will help keep the program funded and secure.
Dear Trail Enthusiast:
The Coalition for Recreational Trails, a federation of national and regional trail-related organizations, is pleased to announce its 2019 achievement awards to recognize outstanding trail projects funded by the national Recreational Trails Program (RTP). The awards will be presented in Washington, D.C. during Great Outdoors Month® in June 2019 as part of the Coalition’s ongoing effort to build awareness and appreciation of this highly successful program, which has greatly enhanced the quantity and quality of trail experiences available to the public. We will be holding the awards ceremony on Capitol Hill and will encourage Members of Congress to join us in honoring the outstanding achievements of their constituents.
Award winners will be selected from projects nominated by public agencies, trail administrators or other project sponsors. Projects must be completed in order to receive an award. In addition, projects completed before 2010 are ineligible. Project award categories will include: construction and design; maintenance and rehabilitation; public-private partnerships and access to public lands; community linkage; education and communication; accessibility enhancement; multiple-use management and “corridor sharing”; use of youth conservation/service corps and community outreach; engaging public-sector partners; and enhancement of federal lands.
We invite you to nominate an outstanding project and to encourage the sponsor(s) of an excellent project in your state to submit a nomination as well. A nomination form is enclosed for your use. We are also again encouraging those making nominations to solicit support from their Members of Congress – both U.S. Representatives and U.S. Senators – to build awareness of excellent RTP-funded projects and the RTP program itself. Additional information can be found on the nomination form.
The nomination form and any supporting materials, including pictures, should be returned by e-mail by May 1, 2019 to the Chair of the Coalition’s Awards Committee: Duane Taylor, Executive Director, National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council, at coalitionforrectrails@gmail.com. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to call him at (703) 582-1202 or send him an e-mail. Winners should be notified no later than May 10, 2019.
Information on each winning project will be featured on the website of American Trails. In addition, it is important to note that photos and other materials included as part of the nominations are often used to highlight RTP projects in the Federal Highway Administration Annual Report, CRT’s Facebook page, and in the online RTP Database image gallery. As a result, simply nominating your project may result in increased exposure for your project!
We hope you will join us in this important effort to recognize the significant contributions to trail-related recreation that the Recreational Trails Program is supporting all across the country.
Sincerely,
The Coalition for Recreational Trails