What is the Project? Briefly, what are you planning to do, and how will it benefit the trail and the Ecosystem?.

The North West Pennsylvania Trail Association are seeking to purchase a 75 HP Tractor and implements – front loader, detachable backhoe, post hole digger, brush hog, finish mover, box scraper, pallet forks, and tire chains. This equipment will be used to maintain and make improvements to our 4 season multi-use trail system. This would include trimming the trail tree canopy twice a year to prepare the trail for summer and winter use. Address drainage issues as created by beaver encroachment as well as ongoing drainage maintenance, installation of new gates and signage replacement at road crossings, grading improvements and installation of limestone replenishment, repairs to existing vehicle parking areas, brush removal, mowing the trail, and a back-up groomer vehicle in the winter. All of these activities will improve the safety and enjoyment experience for year-round trail users as well as improve the ecosystem by removing nonnative plant species while improving the drainage along the trail. This equipment will also reduce our overall carbon footprint. By storing the new equipment in our building next to the trail volunteers will no longer have to transport their own equipment to and from the trail and the new and more efficient equipment will reduce fuel consumption and run time performing these various functions.

What Are You Asking the Fund to Provide? Be specific about what you're asking the Fund to support and how that fits into the overall project. Give an approximate budget for the project that shows what you’re asking the fund to provide and any other funds you’re planning on.

The North West Pennsylvania Trail Association is asking the Volunteer Fund for a $X,000 cash grant. This money will be added to the existing $X,000 cash received from the Impact Corry Legacy Committee. An additional $X,000 was applied for from a local foundation. If this application is turned down the NWPA TA will use $X,000 of our money to be used towards this project. All of the secured funds will be used for a larger grant from DCNR due September 30, 2020. The overall budget for this is project is $XX,XXX. The DCNR grant does not require matching funds but we are showing our organization’s and community support and commitment to Trails and their lasting benefits, especially in these pandemic times.

Funds secured - Impact Corry Legacy, Local funds

What Will Volunteers Do? Be clear about how much volunteer effort will be involved, along with the value of that effort compared to the materials you are asking the Fund to provide.

We have a strong volunteer base that includes trained equipment operators that will be able to utilize this new equipment safely and efficiently. The volunteers currently donate their own equipment and fuel to perform many of the ongoing maintenance functions. For larger projects, public funds were sought to rent appropriate equipment or hire local contractors to perform this work. Once this equipment is purchased our volunteer base will be able to perform scheduled ongoing work reducing the need for costly reactive projects throughout the year.

What will the volunteers do:

What Are You Asking the Fund to Provide:

Grant funded October 2020