Post by Andy Schroeder on Oct 10, 2007 12:58:09 GMT -5
The National Trails System Act of 1968, as amended, calls for establishing trails in both urban and rural settings for persons of all ages, interests, skills, and physical abilities. The act authorizes creation of a National Trails System comprised of four classes of trails: National Scenic Trails, National Historic Trails, National Recreation Trails, and side or connecting trails.
National Recreation Trails recognize existing trails that connect people to local resources and improve their quality of life. National Recreation Trail nominations come from federal agencies, states, communities or private interests that wish to highlight trails of local and regional significance.
National Recreation Trails (NRTs) are designated by the Secretary of the Interior, and those in national forests, by the Secretary of Agriculture. The National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program and USDA Forest Service jointly administer the NRT program, with support from a number of other federal and nonprofit partners, notably American Trails. New designations are announced each year in time for National Trails Day, the first Saturday in June. Over 1,000 trails have been designated on federal, state, local, and privately-owned land throughout the country.
How to Apply
A National Recreation Trail must satisfy the following criteria: the trail is in existence and will be available for public use for at least 10 consecutive years after designation; the trail has been designed, constructed, and is maintained according to best management practices, in keeping with the use anticipated; the trail is in compliance with applicable land use plans and environmental laws; and all landowners, public or private, whose property the trail crosses, have given their written consent to the application. Roads and highways suitable for passenger car travel are not eligible for designation.
The application deadline is November 1. Please visit the NRT web site www.americantrails.org/nationalrecreationtrails for more details and to download the application form.
Benefits
The NRT program provides assistance to trail managers and users in a variety of ways. Benefits of NRT designation include: access to technical assistance from NRT program partners and to funding opportunities; inclusion in the online NRT database; a webpage highlighting your trail; and the NRT newsletter with program updates, newsworthy activities, and technical information.
For More Information
If your trail is on federal land administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, please contact the USDA Forest Service NRT Program Coordinator, James Schwartz, at (202) 205-1589 or jschwartz01@fs.fed.us for guidelines on their application process.
For all other inquiries, please contact Cherri Espersen, NRT Program Coordinator, NPS RTCA Program, at 202-354-6920 or cherri_espersen@nps.gov. You can also send questions to Stuart Macdonald, American Trails, Website Manager and Newsletter Editor, at MacTrail@aol.com.
National Recreation Trails recognize existing trails that connect people to local resources and improve their quality of life. National Recreation Trail nominations come from federal agencies, states, communities or private interests that wish to highlight trails of local and regional significance.
National Recreation Trails (NRTs) are designated by the Secretary of the Interior, and those in national forests, by the Secretary of Agriculture. The National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program and USDA Forest Service jointly administer the NRT program, with support from a number of other federal and nonprofit partners, notably American Trails. New designations are announced each year in time for National Trails Day, the first Saturday in June. Over 1,000 trails have been designated on federal, state, local, and privately-owned land throughout the country.
How to Apply
A National Recreation Trail must satisfy the following criteria: the trail is in existence and will be available for public use for at least 10 consecutive years after designation; the trail has been designed, constructed, and is maintained according to best management practices, in keeping with the use anticipated; the trail is in compliance with applicable land use plans and environmental laws; and all landowners, public or private, whose property the trail crosses, have given their written consent to the application. Roads and highways suitable for passenger car travel are not eligible for designation.
The application deadline is November 1. Please visit the NRT web site www.americantrails.org/nationalrecreationtrails for more details and to download the application form.
Benefits
The NRT program provides assistance to trail managers and users in a variety of ways. Benefits of NRT designation include: access to technical assistance from NRT program partners and to funding opportunities; inclusion in the online NRT database; a webpage highlighting your trail; and the NRT newsletter with program updates, newsworthy activities, and technical information.
For More Information
If your trail is on federal land administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, please contact the USDA Forest Service NRT Program Coordinator, James Schwartz, at (202) 205-1589 or jschwartz01@fs.fed.us for guidelines on their application process.
For all other inquiries, please contact Cherri Espersen, NRT Program Coordinator, NPS RTCA Program, at 202-354-6920 or cherri_espersen@nps.gov. You can also send questions to Stuart Macdonald, American Trails, Website Manager and Newsletter Editor, at MacTrail@aol.com.
