Recreational Trail Program (RTP)

The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is a federally supported grant initiative administered in Nebraska by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The program exists to provide financial assistance for the development, maintenance, restoration, and improvement of recreational public trails and trail-related infrastructure throughout Nebraska. RTP funding supports both motorized and non-motorized trail opportunities and follows a federally required allocation structure in which 30 percent of annual funding supports non-motorized trail uses, 30 percent supports motorized trail uses, and the remaining 40 percent supports diversified recreational trail projects. The program is intended to improve recreational access and outdoor experiences across the state while encouraging environmental stewardship, accessibility, and sustainable trail development. Eligible projects under the Nebraska RTP include construction of new recreational trails, maintenance and restoration of existing trails, rehabilitation of trailside and trailhead facilities, acquisition of easements or property for recreational trail corridors, purchase or lease of trail construction and maintenance equipment, accessibility assessments, and educational or stewardship-related trail initiatives. The program supports a wide range of trail uses including hiking, bicycling, equestrian riding, ATV use, snowmobiling, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, and other recreational trail activities. Nebraska Game and Parks emphasizes accessibility improvements, environmental sustainability, erosion control, habitat restoration, signage, parking facilities, and trailhead development as high-priority project components. RTP funding may also support educational programming related to trail maintenance, environmental stewardship, and recreational safety. The program operates as an 80/20 reimbursement grant. Grant recipients are required to provide at least 20 percent of total project costs as local match, and at least 5 percent of the total project cost must be provided in cash. Applicants must initially pay all project costs and then seek reimbursement from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission after eligible expenditures are documented. Acceptable matching contributions may include cash contributions, donated funds, design engineering costs, environmental review costs, force account labor, volunteer labor, equipment usage, appraised land value, and certain eligible grants. Nebraska RTP policies require applicants to demonstrate proof that matching funds are already available at the time of application. The standard project grant request range is from $50,000 to $250,000, although the RTP Committee may approve waivers when applicants provide sufficient justification. Educational projects may request between $5,000 and $25,000. Eligibility for Nebraska RTP trail development funding is limited primarily to political subdivisions and public agencies within Nebraska. Eligible applicants include cities, counties, Tribal Nations, Natural Resources Districts, school districts, sanitary improvement districts, state agencies, federal agencies, and other public entities such as Public Power Districts. Nonprofit organizations and private organizations may participate as project partners or provide matching support, but they may not serve as the primary grant sponsor for trail development projects. Nonprofit organizations holding 501(c)(3) status may directly apply for educational grants under the program. Applicants must comply with all federal and state requirements associated with environmental review, accessibility standards, procurement, engineering, competitive bidding, land acquisition, signage, reporting, and grant administration. Projects involving easements or land acquisition must comply with federal acquisition standards and may require appraisals and long-term easement agreements. The 2026 application cycle for the Recreational Trails Program opened on May 4, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. Central Time and closes on August 21, 2026 at noon Central Time. Applications are submitted through Nebraska Game and Parks' grant management portal. Nebraska Game and Parks also provides applicant support through recorded webinars, including a general RTP and Land and Water Conservation Fund webinar and a separate grant portal training webinar. The RTP Committee reviews and ranks applications during the fall review cycle, and final project approvals are made by the Nebraska Game and Parks Board of Commissioners in January of the following year. Project selection announcements are typically released in late January, with sponsor notifications occurring by early February. Applications are evaluated using a formal ranking and scoring process administered by the Nebraska RTP Committee, which includes representatives from motorized and non-motorized trail organizations, tourism representatives, and federal and state partners. Evaluation factors include project readiness, quality of planning, accessibility, maintenance planning, environmental considerations, local matching commitment, public recreational value, compliance with RTP objectives, and long-term sustainability. Applicants receiving funding are required to attend grant administration training, submit quarterly progress reports, maintain communication with Nebraska Game and Parks, and complete projects within two years of FHWA authorization unless an extension is approved. The program also requires recipients to comply with all applicable federal accessibility, signage, environmental, and construction standards.

Demonstrate that matching funds are already secured at application time. Provide a detailed maintenance plan and realistic engineering estimates. Coordinate with Nebraska Game and Parks early if the project involves railroads, easements, environmental reviews, or land acquisition. Accessibility improvements and well-developed recreational benefits are prioritized.