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2021 Recreational Trails Program Annual Achievement Awards - Call for Nominations

Deadline Extended to July 19, 2021

The Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT), a federation of the nation’s leading national and regional trail-related organizations, is excited to announce plans for the 2021 Tom Petri Annual Achievement Awards recognizing outstanding trail projects funded by the Recreational Trails Program (RTP)

Dear Trail Enthusiast:

The Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT), representing the nation’s top leading trail-related organizations, is pleased to announce plans for the 2021 Tom Petri Annual Achievement Awards recognizing outstanding trail projects funded by the Recreational Trails Program (RTP), administered jointly by the Federal Highway Administration and state trails programs. These awards are key to CRT’s effort to build awareness and appreciation of RTP, which has greatly enhanced the quantity and quality of trail experiences available to the public since 1991 and has made possible over 30,000 projects and programs.

CRT plans to hold the awards ceremony in September 2021. The very successful 2020 awards program was virtual. CRT hopes to return to an in-person format in the future but is now anticipates a hybrid event for 2021, partly in-person and partly virtual. We will include virtual and pre-recorded video elements in the ceremony – even if we meet face-to-face! Special guests, including Members of Congress will once again participate in the celebration.

For more information on CRT visit www.rectrails.org.

Award winners will be selected from projects nominated by public agencies, trail administrators or other project sponsors. Projects must be completed in order to receive an award. In addition, projects completed before 2012 are ineligible. Project award categories will include: construction and design; maintenance and rehabilitation; public-private partnerships and access to public lands; community linkage; education and communication; accessibility enhancement; multiple-use management and “corridor sharing”; use of youth conservation/service corps and community outreach; engaging public-sector partners; and enhancement of federal lands.

We invite you to nominate an outstanding project and to encourage the sponsor(s) of an excellent project in your state to submit a nomination as well. We are also again encouraging those making nominations to solicit support from their Members of Congress – both U.S. Representatives and U.S. Senators – to build awareness of excellent RTP-funded projects and the RTP program itself.

Like last year the nominations process can be completed online.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE NOMINATION FORM

The nomination form including any supporting materials and pictures, should be completed by June 30, 2021. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact the Coalition’s Awards Committee Chairman Duane Taylor at [email protected]. Winners will be notified by August 15, 2021.

Information on each winning project will be featured on the website of American Trails. In addition, it is important to note that photos and other materials included as part of the nominations are often used to highlight RTP projects in the Federal Highway Administration Annual Report, CRT’s Facebook page, and in the online RTP Database image gallery. Simply nominating your project may result in increased exposure for your project!