RECREATIONAL TRAILS PROGRAM

2014 Annual Achievement Awards T

he Coalition for Recreational Trails’ “Annual Achievement Awards” recognize outstanding use of Recreational Trails

Program (RTP) funds. Award winners were rec- ognized in June in Washington, DC during the annual celebration for Great Outdoors Week. Ten trail projects were chosen as award recipi- ents for 2014:

Construction and Design  Abbott Motocross Park (Nebraska)

The motocross park is part of the Abbott Sports Complex, which includes soccer and football fields, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, and indoor volleyball. It complements these traditional sports facilities with motocross tracks that were professionally designed to provide safe and fun riding expe- riences for athletes of all ages.

Use of Youth Conservation/Service Corps:  Mobile Trail Tools Trailers (Alaska)

Alaska Trails’ two mobile tool trailers are rented by trail constructors or donated for use by nonprofits and volunteer trail builders. The trailers, one in Fairbanks and one in Anchorage, have supported trail building by local, state, and federal agencies, service groups, and Girl and Boy Scouts. Both trailers are equipped with over 50 different hand tools and safety equipment. Alaska Trails invested funds from a Recreational Trails Program grant in 2013 to replace the pop- ular tool trailers and purchase new tools and equipment to outfit them.

Merrimack County Rail Trail in New Hampshire

Accessibility Enhancement  (New Hampshire)

This project involved resurfacing 34 miles to make a four- season trail. A citizens’ action group, the Friends of the Northern Rail Trail in Merrimack County, worked from 2005 to improve the trail surface to a treadway that is sufficiently smooth and stable for use by individuals in wheelchairs.

Maintenance and Rehabilitation  Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (Pennsylvania)

The AOAA nonprofit converted 6,500 acres of County-owned abandoned coal lands into a premier motorized and non- motorized outdoor recreation facility. RTP funding helped develop the accessible trailhead building, road, and parking lot as well as to upgrade the trail system.

Multiple-Use Management and Corridor Sharing 

Discovery Hill had a long history of user-created conflicts and vandalism which were impacting important keystone wildlife species such as sage grouse. The community-driven project developed 35 miles of nonmotorized trails and the designated travel route system was clearly signed and mapped for safer navigation by motorized users.

Maintenance and Rehabilitation 

One of Alaska Trails’ Mobile Trail Tools Trailers in action 36 FALL 2014 AmericanTrails.org

The 22,000-acre Russell Sage Wildlife Management Area is a popular destination for over 30,000 users annually. Prior to department ownership of this property, this trail was an oil- field road. The trail project makes the popular area safely and adequately accessible to many recreation enthusiasts.