The awards ceremony hosted by the Coalition for Recreational Trails was held in Washington, DC on June 8, 2016 at U.S. House of Representatives offices.

Winners have been announced for the 2016 Annual Achievement Awards in recognition of outstanding use of Recreational Trails Program (RTP) funds. The awards ceremony hosted by the Coalition for Recreational Trails was held in Washington, DC on June 8, 2016 at U.S. House of Representatives offices. Representing CRT were Marianne Fowler, Co-Chair, and Duane Taylor, Vice Chair and Awards Committee Chair. We were also honored by the assistance of Barbara McCann, Director of the Office of Safety, Energy, and Environment in the Policy Office of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The awards are part of annual efforts by national trails and outdoor recreation organizations to promote the importance of RTP funding to States across America.

The trail programs and project sponsors honored for 2016 are listed below by category of award:

2016 Outstanding State Recreational Trails Advisory Committee

Trails Advisory Committee - Indiana

The Indiana Trails Advisory Board includes both motorized and nonmotorized users who represent their constituents, not industry or agency, interests in trails to the board as well as sharing important trail information to them.

2016 Public-Private Partnerships Enhancing Public Lands Access and Use

Gypsum City Off-Highway Vehicle Park - Iowa

Development of an 800-acre riding area for recreational vehicles including campground construction, park and trail signs, habitat restoration, and landscape plantings.

2016 Maintenance and Rehabilitation

Cochran Mill Park Trail - Georgia

Project funded construction of a 2.5 mile interpretive trail, trail-building machinery, maps and markers, information kiosk, and an equestrian mounting block to improve accessibility.​

2016 Construction and Design

Kanab Creek OHV Bridge - Utah

Replacement of an often-flooded stream crossing with a new bridge built from a recycled 60-foot overhead crane beam to access many miles of trails for off-highway vehicle recreationists as well as nonmotorized trail users.

2016 Community Linkage

Ash to Kings Trail - Nevada

RTP-funded projects included bridge installation and trail construction using Nevada Conservation Corps work crews, as well as trail construction tools for volunteers.

2016 Multiple-Use Management and Corridor Sharing

Dolan Springs Trail - Arizona

Installation of a vault toilet and wayside benches, relocation of an eroded portion of the trail, plus signs to improve safety, trail maps and brochures, and “Leave No Trace” educational materials.

2016 Education and Communication

Great Trails: Providing Quality OHV Trails and Experiences Guidebook (Nationwide)

Development of a major resource for planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and managing OHV recreational trails and trail systems.

2016 Accessibility Enhancement

Graber Pond Accessible Trail - Wisconsin

Accessible trail in the city of Middleton along a pond and wetlands includes boardwalks, a fishing pier, and an accessible launch facility for kayaks and canoes.

2016 Youth Conservation/Service Corps and Community Outreach

Rock Creek Park Bridge Project - District of Columbia

The Student Conservation Association worked with the National Park Service to build four trail bridges at Rock Creek Park in Washington, DC.

2016 Youth Conservation/Service Corps and Community Outreach

Utah Conservation Corps Bike Crew - Utah

The trail crew used bicycles as their only transportation in improving trails at Utah State Parks site.

2016 Engaging Public-Sector Partners

Eureka Trail - Tennessee

RTP funding enabled the acquisition of 4.3 miles of abandoned CSX rail line from Athens to Englewood, which has since been developed as a multiuse trail.