AUSTIN – During Thursday’s meeting, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved more than $4.8 million dollars in grants funding 17 motorized and non-motorized recreational trail-related projects across the state.

The Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation in Brown County received a $188,000 grant for the Texas 4-H Center Trail System project. The project includes construction of 2.5-miles of an accessible natural surface multi-use crushed aggregate trail and renovation of existing trails with signage, benches and a restroom.

One million dollars of the amount allocated today came directly from state Sporting Good Sales Tax funds dedicated to the Recreational Trails Program through a rider passed by the 82nd Legislature. The rider increased the total amount of funded projects this year.

The National Recreational Trails Fund (NRTF) supports recreational trail construction, renovation and acquisition. The grants are funded from a portion of the federal gas tax generated by gasoline purchases for off-highway vehicles. Thirty percent of the total NRTF grants must be earmarked for motorized recreational trails, while another 30 percent must be spent on non-motorized trail projects. The remaining 40 percent is discretionary.

Several projects funded in previous years were completed under budget and four were cancelled, creating an additional $700,000 available for re-allocation this year. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has utilized the re-allocated funding for trail improvements in state parks.