Friends of the Northern Rail Trail (FNRT) was awarded $25,000 to fix five high priority problem sites in Grafton County. FNRT is among the grantees included in a recent announcement by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), which shared that it has awarded a combined $308,500 in funding to 45 projects across 16 states. 

According to RTC, the grants are investments in community-led efforts to create more opportunities for people to connect with trails in their neighborhoods – either through activities and events or through improved, connected trail infrastructure.

The Grafton project includes five high priority resurfacing sites on the rail trail that have been designated safety issues by FNRT’s maintenance team.

“These five consistently wet spots on the rail trail require immediate resurfacing. Plans are in place for the work to be completed in early December of this year,” said project manager Don Moyer.

RTC’s Trail Grant Program emphasizes strategic investments that support significant regional and community trail development goals, often providing funding for projects that are small in scope and scale and can be hard to finance within traditional funding streams. These projects are essential to building, maintaining, and managing the trails that communities rely upon for recreation, transportation, and economic vitality.

“At RTC, we believe that trails have the power to transform communities and create joyful, vibrant public spaces that are equitable and inclusive,” said Liz Thorstensen, RTC’s vice president of trail development. “These grants are intentional investments in the partners and people who are working on the ground – in their neighborhoods and in their states – to establish the programming and the infrastructure necessary to invite everyone living in a community to enjoy their trails. Our partners are leading the way to a future where trails connect everyone, everywhere.”

This round of RTC trail grants prioritized investment in RTC’s flagship initiatives, including RTC’s TrailNation initiative, which is designed to establish model trail networks across the country to prove what is possible when you equitably connect people and places by trail. Grants also fund those working to connect the Great American Rail-Trail, the nation’s first entirely bikeable cross-country trail, which will one day link Washington DC and Washington State.

Since 2008, RTC has distributed $2,373,320 in trail development grants. For a listing of all grant recipients, visit RailsToTrails.org/Grants. To learn more about TrailNation, visit RailsToTrails.org/TrailNation. To learn more about the Great American Rail-Trail, visit RailsToTrails.org/GreatAmericanRailTrail.

To learn more about Friends of the Northern Rail Trail, please visit FNRT.org or FNRTNH on Facebook.

The Northern Rail Trail consists of 59 miles of resurfaced railbed extending from just north of Concord to Lebanon through scenic New Hampshire for year-round use by walkers, bikers, horseback riders, mobility assisted users, dog walkers, snowmobilers, and cross country skiers in winter.

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is the nation’s largest trails organization, with a grassroots community more than 1 million strong dedicated to building a nation connected by trails, reimagining public spaces to create safe ways for everyone to walk, bike, and be active outdoors. Connect with RTC at RailsToTrails.org and @RailsToTrails on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.