The North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department is opening the Recreation Trails Program grant cycle May 3-31. The RTP is an 80/20 matching grant program that
Jennifer Heaslip, Times-News
Ten years ago, Conserving Carolina Trails Specialist Peter Barr was crawling hand-over-hand up boulders and rock faces and navigating steep cliffs to reach some of the most spectacular views the veteran hiker has seen in the region.
Struck by the beauty of the massive viewshed overlooking Lake Lure, Rumbling Bald and the Hickory Nut Gorge, Barr left with a mission - to preserve the private property and open it to the public.
Wednesday morning, Barr and Conserving Carolina celebrated the culmination of the first phase of his mission with the grand opening of the 2.1-mile Youngs Mountain Trail near Lake Lure, which takes hikers to the summit of its namesake.
“The Youngs Mountain Trail is Conserving Carolina’s most spectacular trail project yet, and it will serve as a crown jewel segment of the budding Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail network, Trails Specialist Peter Barr said. Its overhanging rocks and dramatic cliff ledges offer stunning vistas of the surrounding mountains, including Buffalo Creek Park and Chimney Rock State Park. With the opening of the Youngs Mountain Trail, this breathtaking landscape is one step closer to being linked together by the Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail.”
The trail passes through 437 acres of forever-protected land that provides a haven for biodiversity, including numerous rare or endangered plants and animals. The mountain is home to bear, deer, bobcats, turkeys, and many other kinds of wildlife. The lower part of the trail crosses several beautiful brooks while the top of the trail passes over sheer rock with a lush community of mosses and lichens.
Knox Fiscal Court amends ordinance dealing with volunteer fire departments, following mismanagement of Stinking Creek s department
By Jarrod Mills
Staff Writer Apr 20, 2021
1 hr ago
KNOX COUNTY - The Knox County Fiscal Court passed the second reading of an ordinance amending the countyâs fire subscription fee regulations during a special-called meeting Thursday evening. The amendments come following one Knox County fire department no longer being recognized by the state fire commission.
Changes to ordinance 20160412-02, which adds regulations to subscription fees collected by Knox County volunteer fire departments, was passed unanimously by the court.
Under the amendment, volunteer fire departments may only use subscription fees for building expenses, such as the purchase, maintenance, or expansion of a departmentâs building(s). Subscription fees may be used for the purchase or maintenance of department vehicles; reasonable insurances as r
RTP is a competitive grant program that offers funding for quality public trail projects throughout New Hampshire.
Grants are available for motorized, non-motorized, and diversified trails. Eligible projects include maintenance and restoration of existing trails, purchase and lease of trail construction and maintenance equipment, construction of new trails, development and rehabilitation of trailside and trailhead facilities, and educational materials for trail related activities and safety. Applicants may be non-profit organizations, private groups or government entities.
Applications are due June 18, 2021. For an application and more information, visit the Recreational Trails Program page at nhstateparks.org/about-us/trails-bureau/grants/recreational-trails-program
Usually there is a mandatory workshop requirement for applying to the RTP grant and will be offered virtually to comply with current guidelines. The RTP Information Presentation (shown at the workshops) is available o