Recreational Trail Grants Awarded for 2010

The Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 Recreational Trail Grants. The Recreational Grant Program is a federally funded reimbursable trail grant program. Funding is available for development and maintenance of recreational trails and facilities, acquisition of trail right-of-way, and development of trail safety and education programs. This year's awards go to the following projects:

SOUTHEAST ALASKA

MOUNT JUNEAU TRAIL REROUTE: Project funds will be used to continue construction of a sustainable trail between the Perseverance Trail and the summit of Mt. Juneau. The existing trail ascends Mt. Juneau at a grade of up to 47.7 degrees; this project will replace the existing fall-line trail with a full-bench, singletrack trail between 8% and 15%. Additional work will include rockfall stabilization, drainage features, and general tread maintenance. Trail Mix Inc. was awarded $48,041 for this project.

REFUGE COVE TRALS & TRAILHEAD REHABILITATION: This project will provide funding for the reconstruction of 2000' of existing trail at the Refuge Cove State Recreation Site in Ketchikan. The trail will be hardened and widened to 36". A 250' stretch of the path will meet minimum ADA accessibility standards. Trailhead parking will be enlarged to 125' x 14'. The parking embankment will also be reinforced with boulder riprap to protect the area from sloughing and erosion caused by the ocean. Alaska State Parks, Southeast was awarded $26,011 for this project.

POINT HIGGINS TRAIL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT - PHASE II: Funds for this project will provide an extension to one of the most popular recreation and educational trails in Ketchikan, the Point Higgins Trail. The first phase of the Point Higgins Trail has been completed with a moderate grade, low maintenance, gravel design which traverses Ketchikan Gateway Borough property. The second phase of the trail, the Point Higgins Trail Extension, is located on Alaska Mental Health Trust property and is eroded, in great need of hardening, and targeted for completion in the next two years. The Ketchikan Gateway Borough was awarded $50,000 for this project.

KENAI PENINSULA

COOPER LANDING TRAIL GROOMING: Grant funds will be used by the community of Cooper Landing to create eight miles of groomed ski trails in unused road corridors within the Cooper Landing, Russian River, and Quartz Creek campgrounds. For less than $20,000 an estimated 8000 people, including persons with disabilities, will be able to enjoy high quality and safe skiing. This project will also fund the signage of the new trail system and interconnect over 100 miles of existing trail. The Cooper Landing Community Club was awarded $18,782 for this project.

CARIBOU HILLS TRAIL AND TRAILHEAD REHABILITAION: Project funds will be used to make improvements to the Caribou Lake trailhead parking area; repair and trail mark the Caribou Lake Trail; restore and provide trail signage to the Deep Creek Dome Trail and the Center Plateau Trail. Snomads, Inc. was awarded $41,000 for this project.

PRATT MUSEUM FOREST TRAILS PROJECT: This project will expand and improve the Pratt Museum's forest trail system, which connects the Pratt Museum to central Homer, residential neighborhoods, schools, parks, and other popular destinations. The project will create .33 miles of new trail, including .2 miles of trail accessible for ADA users. .4 miles of trail will be reconstructed to support a variety of recreational uses, including exercise, exploration of the natural world, and interpretive hikes for the public. The Pratt Museum was awarded $50,000 for this project.

SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA

BIG LAKE TRAIL SURVEY: Project funds will be used to obtain the professional services of a land surveying firm to locate the extensive network of recreational trails in the Big Lake - Knik-Houston area. From the data acquired land ownership will be determined. The ultimate goal of collecting this information is to obtain recreational trail easements from affected property owners along the trail routes to preserve future public use and enjoyment of the trails. This data will provide a means for determining signage, maintenance, and management needs for the trails. The Matanuska-Susitna Borough was awarded $32,477 for this project.

MOOSE RANGE TRIALS: The project will consist of purchasing equipment and material for grooming, signing, and maintenance within the Palmer Moose Range trail system. This funding is dedicated for diversified recreational use. 20 miles of winter trails will be groomed, signed, and maintained. The Mat-Su Trails Council was awarded $23,050 for this project.

REED LAKES TRAIL CONSTUCTION: This project will fund the restoration and re-route of heavily degraded switchbacks throughout various sections of the Reed Lakes Trail, specifically between mileposts 1.5 and 2.75. .64 miles of the trail will be completely realigned and constructed, .61 miles will be reconstructed, and the remainder of the trail will be maintained. Alaska State Parks, Mat-Su Area was awarded $41,499 for this project.

OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE OBSTACLE COURSE: This project will be completed in two phases. The first phase, this grant, will use funds to pay for the survey and record of an easement for the creation of an OHV obstacle course in or adjacent to the Knik River Public Use Area. The second phase will be the complete design and construction of the Obstacle Course. One mile of new OHV trail will be planned and surveyed. The Mat-Su Trails Council was awarded $6,250 for this project.

REFLECTIONS LAKE INTERPRETIVE TRAIL: Project funding will be used to pay for the installation of a raised wildlife viewing tower at the Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge. Interpretive panels will also be placed at strategic rest and viewing sites around the trail. These trail upgrades will enhance trail user's experience while contributing to a deeper awareness and appreciation for the value of this important wildlife habitat. Alaskans for Palmer Hay Flats was awarded $50,000 for this project.

GIRDWOOD NORDIC SKI TRAILS: Project funds will be used to plan, develop, and maintain a Nordic, multi-use trail system within the Glacier Ranger District, Winner Creek Valley. Funds from this grant will be used to construct, maintain, and sign the first 3.2 miles (Phase 1). In all, 7 miles of ski trail will be groomed. The Girdwood Nordic Ski Club was awarded $50,000 for this project.

CHICKEN LAKE CROSS PARK / EAST REDSHIRT LAKE TRAIL UPGRADES: Project funds will be used for the continued support of the Chicken Lake Cross Park / East Red Shirt Lake Trail upgrades. Due to increased beaver activity in the area and public requests for grade reductions, additional funds are being requested for materials, equipment and supplies to complete the 9.5 miles of trail. Project dollars will also be used to construct and redesign the Beaver Creek Bridge, which is 1.2 miles from the Nancy Lake Parkway trailhead. An additional Alaska Conservation Corps (ACC) crew member will be hired for 5 months to assist in the completion of this project as well. Alaska State Parks, Mat-Su Area was awarded $22,368 for this project.

CHUGACH STATE PARK TRAIL CREW EQUIPMENT: The purpose of this grant is to purchase equipment for Chugach State Park's newly funded trail crew. This equipment will allow the crew to accomplish trail construction and maintenance projects throughout the park more efficiently. Funding will be used to purchase two ATV's, a Canycom wheelbarrow, a Tag-A-Long belly dump, and miscellaneous safety equipment. Chugach State Park was awarded $23,300 for these equipment purchases.

WESTERN ALASKA

SHELTER CABIN AT NEW IGLOO: The Shelter Cabin at New Igloo will consist of constructing a 16'x20' emergency shelter for public use. The cabin will provide a warm and safe place for seasonal subsistence and recreational users to escape extreme weather conditions that are common in the Bering Strait Region. Once completed, permanent trail markers will be installed from Teller to the New Igloo cabin site. The Native Village of Mary's Igloo was awarded $21,449 for this project

INTERIOR ALASKA

HAPPY VALLEY TRAIL CONSTRUCTION PHASE II: This project is a continuation of the Happy Valley Trail (Phase I) that began in the summer of 2009. From that season 3.5 miles of trail were constructed and an additional 5 miles are planed for 2010. The trail will be designed for use by mountain bikers, hikers, snowshoers, etc. Clearing widths will not exceed 6 feet in width. The resulting trail will be naturally surfaced and avoid low boggy areas. Design parameters will adhere to modern sustainability requirements for alignment, grade, integrated water control, and durable tread. Alaska Trails, Inc. was awarded $50,000 for Phase II of this project.

CHENA HOT SPRINGS ROAD TRAIL SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE UPGRADES: Grant funds will be used to rehabilitate degraded sections of the Chena Hot Springs Road Trail, located within the right-of-way for Chena Hot Springs Road from 4.5-mile to 25.5-mile. The Fairbanks North Star Borough will reconstruct trail approaches at driveway crossings, repair damaged sections of the trail, and install signage. The Fairbanks North Star Borough was awarded $50,000 for this project.

SAFETY AND EDUCATION

CHUGACH STATE PARK: One of the biggest shortcomings of any trail proposal or trail construction project is the development of an appropriate funding formula to determine the cost of a project and to complete it within a pre-determined period of time. Participants for this class will learn trail cost-estimate techniques that are inventory based, which will include production and labor rates, material costs, administrative overhead, and logistical planning. This information will be valuable to the many agency trail managers throughout Alaska, bidding contractors, trail crew supervisors, non-profit trail organizations, and others. At the end of the training participants will take with them computer software and specific procedures on how to more accurately bid on trail-related projects. Tuition funds generated from this course will also be used to teach additional trail costing classes. At least one Alaska trail expert will be trained in the costing program to facilitate and instruct additional programs. Trail experts Don Beers and Karl Knapp, formerly of California State Parks will teach and facilitate this course. Alaska Trails, Inc. was awarded $29,997 for organizing this program.

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