City of Modesto, Parks, Recreation and Neighborhoods Department staff were notified Monday, that the City’s application for the CA Recreational Trails and Greenways Grant Program administered by the State of CA Natural Resources Agency has been recommended for award in the amount of $2,968,885. The City of Modesto applied for this competitive grant to fund the further development of the Tuolumne River Regional Park’s (TRRP) Riverwalk Trail. The project will extend the trail 0.8 miles southwest from the TRRP Gateway Parcel below the CA-99 freeway along the Tuolumne River to the future Neece Drive Non-Motorized Boat Launch across the road from John Thurman Field. Seating and picnicking amenities will be included in addition to the construction of a parking lot and a fully accessible trailhead. The project will also fund various ADA accessibility improvements in the neighborhood surrounding the trailhead which will provide unprecedented accessibility to the regional park. City Staff is very excited to announce this grant award and to be one of only 19 projects in the state to be recommended for funding, and to also be one of the largest projects funded. It is anticipated that design will begin on this project in 2021 and we hope to complete construction in 2023. The award of this project is another major step toward the goal of making the Tuolumne River Regional Park a regional recreation destination.
Information about the CA Recreational Trails and Greenways Grant Program:
- The California Natural Resources Agency has announced $27.7 million in funding for projects that will expand access to the outdoors and boost recreational opportunities for communities across the state.
- The grants are to promote new or alternate access to parks, waterways, outdoor recreational pursuits, and forested or other natural environments to encourage health-related active transportation and opportunities for Californians to reconnect with nature.
- The funding will support 19 projects, 12 of which are in disadvantaged communities (including the project in Modesto).
- The grants are part of the Recreational Trails and Greenways Grant Program funded by Proposition 68.
- "Increased access to our natural spaces is more important than ever. These multi-benefit projects not only enhance recreational opportunities but increase access which can improve physical and mental health," California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot said. "We are excited to award these grants to support organizations and local governments that are committed to expanding and improving access to the outdoors.”
The proposed project scope will include:
- Construct 0.8 miles of an 10-foot wide permeable concrete Class 1 ADA accessible trail with 3-foot wide decomposed granite shoulder.
- The trail will extend the existing Tuolumne River Regional Park (TRRP) Riverwalk Trail from the Gateway Parcel to the planned Neece Drive Non-Motorized Boat Launch.
- Construct a trailhead parking lot adjacent to the boat launch.
- The project includes two (2) seating areas for wildlife viewing and for resting along the trail.
- In addition three (3) picnic table areas, with trash cans, bollards and a drinking fountain will be installed at the south end of the trail adjacent to the boat launch.
- The trailhead at Neece Drive will provide ADA pedestrian access to the trail, boat launch and park amenities.
- The project will be removing invasive tree and plant species in the area and planting approximately 100 native trees with temporary irrigation.
- Any areas disturbed during construction will be seeded with native grasses.
- Finally, the project includes some community access improvements of roughly 320 feet of sidewalk and 5 ADA accessible curb ramps along Sunset Ave and Neece Dr.
- These neighborhood connectivity improvements will extend ADA park accessibility to Aspire Elementary School as well as the Signature Court low income housing development.