BOULDER, CO (BRAIN)—Bikes Belong announced funding on Monday for five bike facility projects.
The awards will help communities in Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio and South Carolina construct paths and parks that will encourage active commuting and great recreational riding.
The recipients are:
—The Greenville County Recreation District, South Carolina. A $10,000 grant will help Greenville County Recreation District construct the 10-mile Swamp Rabbit Trail. The multi-use path will create a safe and accessible route for cyclists between downtown Greenville and a trail system in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Bikes Belong's funding for this greenway will complement Recreational Trails Program funds, a grant from Newman’s Own, and individual donations as well as support from Hincapie Sports.
—Raccoon River Valley Trail Association, Des Moines, Iowa, Metro Area. The Raccoon River Valley Trail Association will receive $10,000 to help pave its namesake trail in west-central Iowa. The 33-mile loop will connect to 23 miles of existing trail spanning many counties—all of which have contributed funds to the project.
—Wamego Community Foundation, Kansas. The Wamego Community Foundation will use its $10,000 grant to pave the Wam-Sag-Man Trail. The path will connect the towns of Wamego, St. George and Manhattan, as well as the local school, to 26 miles of existing multi-use path. Bikes Belong’s funding will serve as a match for a Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks grant, joining a National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance grant and local funding for the project.
—City of Lancaster, Ohio, Lancaster City Loop. A $5,000 Bikes Belong grant will help the City of Lancaster, Ohio, build a 9.6-mile multi-use loop around the town. Because Lancaster doesn't have a developed transit system, the city is working to promote other forms of alternative transportation, including bike commuting. The city has identified this loop as particularly important to bike commuters, as it links two much longer pathway systems on either side of the city.
—The Village of Mayville, Michigan, Mayville BMX Park. The Village of Mayville, Michigan, will use its $5,000 grant to build bike elements at a new BMX/skate park. The facility is part of a community recreation plan that includes a pathway linking it to the bike-path network and areas schools. The project is also being funded by local donations and the Tony Hawk Foundation.
