Applications Open For Morris County Recreational Trail Grant Program

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — The 2022 Morris County Trail Construction Grant Program, which opened its seventh annual application process Friday, will make nearly $1.8 million in grants for recreational trails available to Morris County's 39 municipalities.

Since 2016, the Morris County Board of County Commissioners has spent more than $4 million to build and improve a growing network of local trails, after voters unanimously approved allocating a portion of the Morris County Preservation Trust Fund to recreational trail development.

“Use of our recreational facilities, especially the number of people taking to our trails, remains higher than ever before. Our growing trail system became a haven during the intense early days of the pandemic in 2020, and since then it has become a staple in their recreational routines," said Commissioner Stephen Shaw, the board liaison to the trail program.

Here is a reminder of the program's 2021 changes:

The two-step submission process:

• Step 1, Letters of Intent are due on June 30, 2022.
• Step 2, Full Applications are due by July 29, 2022.

Permissible Uses and Projects include:

• Construction of new trails of various types (motorized and non-motorized)
• Enhancement of existing trails (improvements to design and/or surface type to accommodate increased use or to make the trail ADA compliant)

Funding only will be considered if the land on which a trail project is to be constructed is:

• Located in Morris County
• Owned by the municipality
• Permanent preserved public parkland or private land with dedicated easements for public recreation use
• On land with a permanent easement for public trail/recreational provided to the municipality
• In full municipal control of all land and/or easements on which trail(s) are to be funded

Several aspects of project development are not eligible for funding. Among them are land condemnation, land acquisition, sidewalks, road improvements or construction, lighting, running tracks, law enforcement personnel and activities, and promotional materials.

For all funding categories, the minimum grant amount is $5,000. The maximum grant award varies by category and is defined as "no single award shall receive more than 60% of the funds available during each year's funding cycle."

This exception, however, can be waived if a project is deemed to be of regional significance.

The Trail Grant program is a reimbursement program. Municipal applicants are only permitted to submit one application per funding cycle.

The selected grants are expected to be distributed before the end of the year.

Application materials and other resources are available on the program website, including a program Fact Sheet, which provides a brief summary.

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