Share

Columbia, S.C. – The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism (SCPRT) is pleased to announce that 10 projects from across the state were selected to receive grant funding through the federal Recreational Trails Program (RTP).

RTP is a federal-aid assistance program designed to help states provide and maintain recreational trails for both motorized and non-motorized recreational trail use. SCPRT administers the RTP under the approval of the Federal Highway Administration. 

“South Carolina is blessed with beautiful and unique landscapes, and the RTP grant allows for more South Carolinians and visitors to discover those places,” said SCPRT Director Duane Parrish. “From increasing access to areas by building new trails, to updating and enhancing existing trails, RTP dollars have helped fund hundreds of projects all over the state, from building sections of the Palmetto Trail in Pickens and Oconee, to creating the Owens Field Pump Track in Columbia, to completing the Waccamaw Neck Bikeway North-South Connector in Georgetown. Walkers, runners, cyclists, skateboarders, equestrians and more can all benefits from RTP projects.”

The following 10 projects were selected this year from the pool of 28 applicants:

• CSX Railbed Trail Project, Town of Great Falls
  Project total: $125,000 | Grant total: $100,000
• Awendaw East Coast Greenway Phase 2, Town of Awendaw
  Project total: $125,000 | Grant total: $100,000
• City of Hardeeville "City Loop" Trail Phase I, City of Hardeeville
  Project total: $125,000 | Grant total: $100,000
• Bike Trail Improvements, City of York Recreation Department
  Project total: $125,000 | Grant total: $100,000
• Bolick/Cannon Trail, Town of Central Recreation Department
  Project total: $125,000 | Grant total: $100,000
• The Pavilion Miniature Rail‐Trail, Greenville County Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism
  Project total: $125,000 | Grant total: $100,000
• Thunderbolt Park Avenger Trail Pedestrian Bridge, City of Myrtle Beach
  Project total: $125,000 | Grant total: $100,000
• Coquina Trail Boardwalk in Poinsett State Park, South Carolina State Park Service
  Project total: $96,625 | Grant total: $77,300
• Wambaw Cycle Trail 2021 Enhancement Project, USDA Forest Service, Francis Marion National Forest
  Project total: $100,000 | Grant total: $80,000
• Enoree OHV Trail Project, USDA Forest Service, Enoree Ranger District, Sumter National Forest
  Project total: $93,000 | Grant total: $74,400

Projects were evaluated in terms of their overall quality, need, public support, and planning process; that adequate resources are available to execute the project; and that resources are available to adequately manage, maintain and operate the project after completion. Priority is given to trail projects providing connections or extensions for trail systems that are at least ten miles in length, and projects located in low income areas.

Recreational Trails Program grant information and eligibility criteria:

• Funding is provided on a cost-reimbursement basis. The grant recipient must pay 100% of the cost of an item before submitting a reimbursement request for 80% of eligible costs.
• Funds can be spent on both motorized and nonmotorized recreational trail projects. The project can include constructing new recreational trails, improving or maintaining existing trails, developing or improving trailhead or trailside facilities, and acquiring trail corridors.
• Eligible applicants include local, state and federal governmental agencies, qualified private organizations, and registered nonprofits.

After receiving funding in 2017 for Phase 1 of the Awendaw East Coast Greenway, this year Awendaw was awarded for Phase 2. “The Town of Awendaw is extremely excited and honored to be a recipient of the 2021 RTP funding that enables us to provide three miles of off-road trail primarily through a scenic section of the Francis Marion National Forest,” said Awendaw Town Administrator Bill Wallace and Planning Administrator Jody Muldrow. “With this grant we are extending our 2.3-mile first phase which was recently officially designated as part of the East Coast Greenway.”

The CSX Railbed Trail Project in Great Falls will help connect pieces of the town’s Nature Based Tourism Initiative. "Great Falls is honored to be one of the 10 projects chosen statewide to receive the RTP Grant from SCPRT," Mayor Lee Montgomery said. "This gives us the opportunity to get this trail project started as we continue to work on the Nature Based Tourism Initiative developed by Great Falls Home Town Association and the community for economic stimulus in Great Falls."

Find additional award criteria and eligibility information for the Recreational Trails Program at scprt.com/recreation/recreation-grant-programs/recreational-trails-program. Learn more about SCPRT grant programs at scprt.com/grants.

 For more information, contact Sam Queen at sam@scprt.com or 803-767-3568. 

###