Chapter 5Trails and Greenway Investment

Section § 80080

Explanation

This law provides $30 million to the Natural Resources Agency for competitive grants aimed at developing nonmotorized infrastructure that connects people to nature. These grants support local agencies, Native American tribes, nonprofits, and others in creating better access to parks and outdoor areas, encouraging healthy activities and nature connection.

Additionally, up to 25% of the funds can help disadvantaged youth access outdoor experiences through innovative transportation projects. The grants may focus on improving trails and paths for safer access to natural areas. The agency should align these grants with existing guidelines, like those from the California Recreational Trails Act and Plan, to ensure consistency.

(a)CA Public Resources Code § 80080(a) The sum of thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be available to the Natural Resources Agency, working in cooperation with the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for competitive grants to local agencies, state conservancies, federally recognized Native American tribes, nonfederally recognized California Native American tribes listed on the California Tribal Consultation List maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission, joint powers authorities, and nonprofit organizations to provide nonmotorized infrastructure development and enhancements that 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.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 80080(b) Of the amount made available pursuant to this section, up to 25 percent may be made available to communities for innovative transportation projects that provide new and expanded outdoor experiences to disadvantaged youth.
(c)CA Public Resources Code § 80080(c) Alignment, development, and improvement of nonmotorized infrastructure and trails that lead to safer interconnectivity among parks, waterways, and natural areas may be encouraged.
(d)CA Public Resources Code § 80080(d) The Natural Resources Agency is encouraged, when designing guidelines for grants awarded under this chapter, to utilize existing program guidelines, including, if applicable, guidelines that have been established for the California Recreational Trails Act (Article 6 (commencing with Section 5070) of Chapter 1 of Division 5) and, to the extent possible, to design guidelines that are consistent with the California Recreational Trails Plan, as described in Article 6 (commencing with Section 5070) of Chapter 1 of Division 5.
Natural Resources Agency competitive grants local agencies Native American tribes nonmotorized infrastructure parks access outdoor recreational access health-related active transportation disadvantaged youth innovative transportation projects trails development safer interconnectivity California Recreational Trails Act California Recreational Trails Plan
(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 852, Sec. 3. Approved in Proposition 68 at the June 5, 2018, election.)

Section § 80081

Explanation

If a project isn't recognized as benefiting a disadvantaged community, the group receiving funding must contribute 20% of their own resources.

Unless the project has been identified as serving a disadvantaged community, an entity that receives an award under this chapter shall be required to provide a match of 20 percent.
disadvantaged community funding match 20 percent match requirement project funding award recipients entity obligations community projects financial contribution matching funds resource allocation funding eligibility criteria
(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 852, Sec. 3. Approved in Proposition 68 at the June 5, 2018, election.)