Trail Construction Grant Application

Step 1.Pay attention to the deadlines

These deadlines must be met for consideration for the 2021 Trail Grant Program:

• Schedule and attend Pre-Application Meeting with Program Administrator prior to application deadline, July 30, 2021.
• By June 30, 2021 (Wednesday) – submit Letter of Intent(PDF, 346KB) along with all supporting documentation.
• By July 30, 2021 (Friday) – submit completed application specific to type of project - P1(PDF, 531KB) (design) or P2(PDF, 585KB) (construction)

Step 2.Attend Trail Grant Program Workshop

A Program Workshop will be held virtually on Thursday May 6, 2021 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.  The Workshop will review overall program changes for 2021, updated application process, and other program requirements.

Join the workshop online or call +1-408-418-9388, Meeting number (access code): 132 061 6676.

• 2021 Trail Grant Program Workshop PowerPoint(PDF, 4MB)
• 2021 Trail Grant Program Workshop Video
• 2021 Trail Grant Fact Sheet(PDF, 194KB)

Step 3.Attend a Pre-Application Meeting - REQUIRED

All applicants are required to attend Pre-Application Meetings so that staff can guide your project accordingly, simplify the application process, and familiarize you with details of the program. Pre-Application Meetings will be scheduled from May through July 2021. 

All Pre-Application Meetings will be held virtually.  Contact the Program Administrator Denise Chaplick at 973-326-7605 or [email protected] to schedule.   

Step 4.Fill out and submit Letter of Intent

Submit the Letter of Intent(PDF, 346KB) to [email protected] by Wednesday, June 30, 2021 by 4:00pm.

The Letter of Intent documents ownership of the property where proposed project will be constructed and provides an initial estimate of project costs and grant requests.

Step 5.Fill out the application that applies to you

Download the correct type of application to your computer, then fill out in Reader or Acrobat.

• 2021 Phase 1 - Design & Permitting Grant Application(PDF, 531KB) (for design and permitting phase)
• 2021 Phase 2 – Construction Grant Application(PDF, 585KB) (for minor or major construction projects)

Follow these instructions:

• Application Instructions(PDF, 110KB)
• Application Checklists(PDF, 77KB)
• Construction Cost Estimate(XLSX, 28KB) (Applies ONLY to Phase 1: Design & Permitting, and Phase 2: Minor Construction)

Use these materials to complete your Trail Grant Application:

• U.S. Forest Service Trail Fundamentals-Design Parameters Matrix(PDF, 5MB)
• Penn Trails LLC Handout – Sustainable Trail Planning & Management Strategies
• Sample Resolution(PDF, 10KB)

Step 6.Submit the Grant Application

Submit 3 copies of the application (1 original and 2 copies) along with one electronic copy of the application via CD by Friday July 30, 2021 at 4:00 PM.

Address your applications to:

US Mail
Denise Chaplick, Trail Grant Program Administrator
P.O. Box 1295
Morristown, NJ 07962-1295

In-person delivery or overnight use:
Denise Chaplick, Trail Grant Program Administrator
300 Mendham Road
Morristown, NJ 07960

Step 7.Answer questions from staff

The Program Administrator may contact applicants to clarify information submitted with your application. Applicants should be prepared to respond to questions and provide additional information as requested.