New Mexico’s Economic Development Department (EDD) has announced the allocation of $4.3 million in Outdoor Recreation Trails+ Grants to 16 recipients across 10 counties. These grants are aimed at enhancing outdoor recreation infrastructure, including fire-damaged trail restoration, infrastructure upgrades, and youth conservation projects throughout the state.
“We’re extremely proud to support projects that enhance the safety, accessibility, and sustainability of outdoor recreation across New Mexico,” EDD Secretary-Designate Rob Black said in a press release.
He highlighted that it will help restore over 350 miles of fire-damaged trails, supporting the recovery of New Mexico’s forests and improving access to outdoor spaces.
The grant program, launched in 2020, has already invested over $22.4 million in 179 projects in 30 counties and 11 tribal communities. This round of funding also introduced a new tier 3 grant, which awarded $1 million to the City of Carlsbad for significant renovations at the Lower Tansill Recreation Area.
“This increased funding level empowers communities to move forward with large-scale projects that boost access to quality outdoor experiences and create economic opportunities across New Mexico,” Karina Armijo, director of the Outdoor Recreation Division (ORD), noted.
Glorieta Adventure Camps, located in Santa Fe County, is another notable recipient that received a $500,000 grant to expand its trail infrastructure.
The project will include the development of a family-friendly, adaptive stacked loop trail system, the addition of 120 trailhead parking spaces, self-composting toilets, a bike maintenance station, educational interpretive signage along the trails, and the construction of an 18-hole disc golf course.
The grants were evaluated by a panel of experts from various agencies, including the State Land Office, the Maddox Foundation, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, the Tourism Department, and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
Applications for the third round of Outdoor Recreation Trails+ Grants are open through December 31, 2024. For more information or to apply, visit www.NMOutside.com.
