Opportunity Information: Apply for P17AS00181
This funding opportunity, titled "Promote and protect foot trails, their surrounding natural areas, and the hiking experience for the general public" (Funding Opportunity Number P17AS00181), is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the Department of the Interior's National Park Service (NPS). It was created on April 11, 2017, and is listed under CFDA 15.921, which signals that it sits within the federal natural resources and conservation assistance space. The core purpose is public-facing and stewardship-focused: using hiking and foot trails as a gateway for getting more people outdoors, encouraging volunteering, and strengthening protection of trails and the natural areas around them.
The agreement is structured around a collaborative partnership model rather than a simple grant where the recipient operates independently. As a cooperative agreement, it implies substantial involvement by the NPS in carrying out the work, such as coordinating strategy, aligning messaging and outreach with federal priorities, and leveraging NPS networks, platforms, and partners. The opportunity description specifically identifies the American Hiking Society as a central player in delivering the work as "the national voice for hikers," indicating the intent is to work through an established national organization with broad reach and credibility in the hiking community.
Programmatically, the work centers on promoting hiking and sustainable trail systems while building a nationwide constituency of hikers and trail stewards. That includes not only encouraging people to hike, but also organizing and motivating the public to volunteer and participate in trail care, advocacy, and protection efforts. A major emphasis is coalition-building: forming strategic alliances and partnerships at national, regional, and local levels. In practice, that can mean coordinated campaigns with nonprofits, trail clubs, conservation groups, outdoor recreation partners, and community organizations, all working toward shared goals of trail sustainability, public engagement, and resource protection.
The opportunity highlights several public benefits expected from sustainable trails and trail systems. Trails are positioned as community connectors that bring people together, provide access to natural and cultural heritage, support healthy lifestyles through outdoor recreation, and play an integral role in conservation. This frames trails not just as recreational infrastructure, but as a platform for broader conservation outcomes, stronger civic participation, and long-term stewardship of public lands and adjacent natural areas.
In terms of funding scale and availability, the posting indicates an award ceiling of $1 and an expectation of a single award. Combined with the statement that no applications will be accepted, this strongly suggests it is not an open, competitive call for proposals, but rather a specific, predetermined cooperative agreement arrangement. Eligibility is listed as "Others," with a note to see additional eligibility information, which is consistent with an arrangement aimed at a particular type of organization (often a named or clearly implied partner) rather than a broad pool of applicants.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a formal NPS partnership mechanism designed to amplify hiking and trail stewardship nationally. Its intent is to grow and mobilize a durable base of hikers and volunteers, strengthen cross-sector collaboration, and promote a vision of trails as essential public assets that support recreation, health, heritage connection, and conservation.Apply for P17AS00181
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Promote and protect foot trails, their surrounding natural areas, and the hiking experience for the general public." and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.921.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 11, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by No Applications will be accepted. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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| BLM CA Friends of Big Morongo Preserve Apply for L17AS00043 Funding Number: L17AS00043 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| BLM CA Friends of Jawbone Apply for L17AS00058 Funding Number: L17AS00058 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Natural Resource Damage Assessment, Restoration and Implementation Apply for F17AS00193 Funding Number: F17AS00193 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $45,000 |
| FY17 Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force Regional Panels Apply for F17AS00192 Funding Number: F17AS00192 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $40,000 |
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