Wisconsin Recreational Trails Program

Grant Priorities include:

• Rehabilitation and maintenance of existing trails and trailhead facilities;
• Development of new trails, trail linkages and trailhead facilities (some restrictions apply on federal lands); and
• Acquisition of property for trails in areas with limited trail opportunities.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s eligibility requirements.

Eligibility requirements include:

• RTP funds may only be used on trails which have been identified in or which further a specific goal of a local, county, or state trail plan included or referenced in the State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). These include traditional trails as well as water trails recognized by the DNR.

Please note that applications for acquisition projects are not being accepted for State Fiscal Year 2024.

Click on the next section to learn more about the matching requirements for this funding opportunity.

Eligible sponsors may be reimbursed for up to 80% of eligible project costs.

Click on the next section to learn more about the eligible costs for this funding opportunity.

Eligible costs include:

• Maintenance and restoration of existing trails
• Development and rehabilitation of trailside and trailhead facilities and trail linkages
• Construction of new trails. Construction of new trails crossing federal lands only where permissible under other law, necessary and required by a statewide comprehensive outdoor recreation plan, approved by the DNR and the administering federal agency and consistent with applicable federal land management plans and policies.
• Acquisition of easements and fee simple title to property for recreational trails or recreational trail corridors (must comply with the provisions of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, as amended).

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s project timeline.

If your project is selected for funding, you will be notified of a tentative award approximately 4 months after the application deadline. Final award and payment will be subject to several additional required reviews, including, in some cases, approval of the Natural Resources Board and the Joint Committee on Finance. The time between submitting a complete application and receiving a grant contract ranges from six to eighteen months.

For the most up to date information on project timelines and period of performance, please contact the grant managers using the “Contact Information” section below.

Click on the next section for this funding opportunity’s application deadline and forms.

Applications are typically due on May 1 each year. Please contact the grant program manager using the “Contact Information” section below to confirm application deadlines.

Stewardship Local Assistance Programs (STEW), Federal Land and Water Conservation Program (LWCF) and the Federal Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Grant Program Guidance and Application Materials available using the links below:

• 2025 Grant Guidelines | Appendix A to Guidelines
• Stewardship Local Assistance, Federal Land & Water Conservation Fund and Recreational Trails Program grant application Form 8700-191
• Application Answer Template (Form 8700-338)
• Recreation Grant Project Cost estimate worksheet Form 8700-014
• Environmental Hazards Assessment Form 1800-001
• Public Access & Acceptable Uses Form 8700-322 *
• Sample resolution for outdoor recreation aids

*One method to resolve PDF problems such as the [Please wait…] error is to use IE mode in Microsoft Edge Chromium. Another option is to save a copy of the file to your device for offline use, then open the file with Adobe Reader. For more PDF troubleshooting tips, please click here.

Click on the next section to access the Contact Information for this funding opportunity.

For assistance with RTP grants, contact:

Bobbi Winebar, WDNR Grant Program Manager
Phone: (920) 461-2595

Your regional DNR grant project manager