Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Awards Statewide Recreational Trails Grants Totaling $6.17 million

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Awards Statewide Recreational Trails Grants Totaling $6.17 million

June 1, 2026

Media Contact: TPWD News, Business Hours, 512-389-8030

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AUSTIN-The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved more than $6.17 million in grants during its May meeting in Austin, funding 21 trail construction and maintenance projects across the state.

The National Recreational Trails Fund (NRTF) supports recreational trail construction, renovation and acquisition through grants funded from a portion of the federal gas tax generated by fuel purchases for off-highway vehicles. The fund must be used to support a diverse mix of both motorized and non-motorized trail projects.

This year, $3.675 million in NRTF funds were made available for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Recreational Trails Grants Program. In addition to the federal funds, $1.59 million of the state Sporting Goods Sales Tax was allocated for eligible trail projects.

A portion of the grant funds, up to $900,000, will be used to support trail improvement projects in state parks.

Projects awarded funding are listed in alphabetical order by county below:

Texas A&M University-Central Texas has been awarded $299,994 for the Forge Trail System in Bell County. The funds will be used for the construction of a 0.25-mile accessible trail segment and 1.25 miles of natural surface trail including trailhead, interpretive kiosks, benches and wayfinding signage.

Universal City has been awarded $297,904 for the third phase of the Cibolo Creek Recreational Trail in Bexar County. It will be used for the construction of a 0.85-mile, 12-foot-wide concrete surface trail.

The McKinney Municipal Utility District No. 1 in Collin County was issued $21,865 for the installation of trailside amenities including waste receptacles, benches and information kiosks.

In Crockett County, the Texas Motorized Trails Coalition was awarded $499,999 for the TMTC Escondido Draw Recreation Area, renovating a 10 mile, 6-foot-wide motorized trail with parking improvements, toilets and plumbing, an electrical system and equipment purchases.

The Trust for Public Land-Texas in Dallas County has been awarded $219,030 for the construction of a 3-mile, 6-foot-wide improved surface trail with benches, signage, kiosks, erosion control and habitat restoration of the Woody Branch Park nature trails.

The Paso del Norte Community Foundation was awarded $237,372 for the risk reduction and user experience improvement project of the Paso del Norte Trail in El Paso County. Funds are for construction of a 250-foot trail and renovations of a 7.64-mile trail with concrete repair, street crossing, wayfinding and entrance signage and trash receptacles.

In Galveston County, $220,304 has been awarded to the Galveston Bay Foundation for the construction of a 1.5-mile, 7-foot-wide multi-surface trail which will include bridges, picnic tables, benches and an educational kiosk. This new trail will be the Gessner Center Trail & Resiliency Project.

The Hill Country Conservancy has been awarded $300,000 for the Violet Crown Trail's second phase in Hays County, which includes construction of a 2-mile natural surface trail extension.

Henderson County will see the Gun Barrel City Park Trails refreshed with the renovation of the 0.95-mile, 5-foot-wide recycled asphalt trail. The $54,700 to do so was awarded to Gun Barrel City.

The City of Beaumont in Jefferson County was awarded $215,000 for its new Lefler Motor Park. The money will be used for construction of a five-mile, 10-foot-wide motorized trail with signage, trailheads, restroom, lighting and parking.

Also in Jefferson County, the City of Beaumont has been awarded $296,000 for the renovation of the Tyrrell Park Trail System. The 2.50 miles of accessible trail will be renovated with drainage improvements, benches and signage.

The City of Boerne was given $300,000 for the replacement of the Old No. 9 Trail Bridge in Kendall County. The job scope is the construction of a 120-foot long, 12-foot-wide steel bridge as a replacement for the aging timber structure on existing trail.

In McLennan County, the Waco Motorcycle Club was awarded $390,400 for the renovation of a 10-mile, 6-foot-wide trail with retaining walls, sheltered picnic areas, fencing, lighting and trailhead kiosk.

The City of Perryton in Ochiltree County has been awarded $216,000 for the Murphy Park new recreational walking paths. A 0.57-mile, 5-foot-wide ADA-accessible concrete trail, lighting and shaded benches will be constructed with the funds.

At the newest Texas State Park, Palo Pinto Mountains State Park has been awarded $300,000 for phase two of the park trails in Palo Pinto County. There will be six additional miles of multi-use natural surface trail added to the park.

Scurry County has been awarded $143,467 for its continued renovation of its recreational trails. These renovations will be for 1-mile of trail and construction of 10-15 miles of bike trails, a children's pump track, bridges, restroom improvements, a shade pavilion and benches.

The Park of East Texas, Inc., was awarded $300,000 for its trails, which will be used on construction of a 1-mile, 6-foot-wide looped decomposed granite trail with a gravel parking lot, trailhead, signage, site furniture and entry gate in Smith County.

The John Treviño Jr. Metropolitan Park Trail Network in Travis County will be a 3.25-mile, 6-foot-wide decomposed granite trail, including signage and shaded rest areas. The funds were awarded to the City of Austin's Parks and Recreation Department for the construction.

Also in Travis County, the Ecology Action of Texas was awarded $166,420 for the Montopolis Nature Trail Network for renovations and improvements of a 4-mile, 4-foot-wide natural surface trail with equestrian infrastructure, bike racks and a gravel parking area.

Val Verde County received $300,000 for the non-motorized trails in its bounds, which includes construction of a 6.6-mile, 10-foot-wide crushed limestone walking trail.

The Stanford Park Recreational Trail will be renovated with the $192,000 awarded to Yoakum County. The 0.52-mile, 10-foot-wide trail will be renovated to have a concrete multi-use walking loop.