Trail projects in Kenton and Campbell Counties scored big funds from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, it was announced Wednesday.
Governor Steve Beshear said that nearly $1.1 million in funding has been awarded to seventeen trail projects across Kentucky, including a pair in Northern Kentucky.
“Improving Kentucky’s trails is important to developing our state’s overall adventure tourism efforts,” Beshear said in a news release. “This funding helps our communities to not only open new trail projects, but to also improve on existing ones that will help infuse tourism dollars into local economies and improve residents’ overall quality of life.”
The City of Covington was awarded $100,000 for phases two and three of the Licking River Greenway & Trail project and Campbell County was given $100,000 for the A.J. Jolly Trailside Enhancement Project.
Since 2008, First Lady Jane Beshear has been a leader in improving and promoting adventure tourism across the state. She joins Gov. Beshear as a strong supporter for the Recreational Trail Project (RTP).
“We are fortunate to live in a state that offers an array of beautiful, natural resources in around which we can create top quality tourism activities,” Jane Beshear said in a statement. “The RTP program funding helps Kentucky towns and counties develop premier outdoor recreational destinations that both local residents and visitors from across the state and country can enjoy.”
RTP grants may be used to provide assistance for acquisition of easements; development and/or maintenance of recreational trails; and trailhead facilities for both motorized and non-motorized use. Examples of trail uses include hiking, cycling, inline skating, equestrian use, off-road motorcycling and all-terrain vehicle riding.
The RTP is funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, and Kentucky’s RTP is administered by the Department for Local Government. It requires that non-motorized trail applicants match the amount of funds requested to receive a 50 percent reimbursement on approved projects, and that motorized trail applicants match the amount of funds requested to receive an 80 percent reimbursement. Those eligible to apply include city and county governments and state and federal agencies.
RTP applicants that also applied to receive Kentucky Trail Town designations received additional points in the RTP selection process. Trail Towns are certified through the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, and are communities near trail systems that help boost local tourism and economic growth through an atmosphere of trail-friendly businesses that cater to trail users.
-Staff report
