DNR Seeking Public Comment On Draft 2026 Program Guidance For Federal Recreational Trail Program

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking public comment on the Draft Program Guidance for the Federal Recreational Trail Program (RTP) Grant Program.

The RTP Grant Program guidance will no longer be combined with the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Local Assistance Program or the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Program guidance. This notice also includes a date change for the RTP grant application deadline, changing from May 1 to March 1 annually.

The goal of the RTP is to encourage the maintenance, rehabilitation and development of trails and trail-side amenities by providing cost-sharing assistance to governmental units and qualified trail organizations. Funding is available for both motorized and non-motorized trails.

The RTP grants are facilitated by the DNR in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, through funding appropriated to Wisconsin by the U.S. Federal Highway Administration. Due to the processing time required for necessary project reviews by all state and federal agencies, the DNR proposes to move the application deadline from May 1 to March 1 annually, starting in 2026.

• Summary of proposed changes: The RTP grant program guidance will not change substantially from its previous application years. However, this public comment opportunity serves as notice that a Draft RTP Grant Program Guidance is now available for public comment. This notice also pertains to the change in the RTP grant application deadline to March 1 annually, starting in 2026.
• Next steps: Once the 21-day comment period is complete, all comments will be considered, revisions will be made to the draft guidance document as warranted, and the Final Program Guidance, Applications and Instructions will be made available on the DNR’s Recreational Trail Program Grants webpage.

Please send comments on or before Dec. 1, 2025, to:

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
C/O Cheryl Housley, DNR Grant Project Manager
3911 Fish Hatchery Road
Fitchburg, WI 53711
Cheryl.Housley@wisconsin.gov or 608-516-9560

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.