Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Trails Maintenance Fund for Western New York
In 2018, as part of the 100th anniversary of Ralph Wilson, Jr.’s birth and celebration of his legacy and community devotion, the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation announced a $100 million Parks & Trails Initiative in Western New York. This commitment included allocating $10 million towards the sustainability of regional trails in Western New York.
In 2022, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation fulfilled this commitment by establishing an endowment fund at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo to provide support for reconstruction, restoration, rehabilitation, and maintenance projects that benefit Western New York trails and greenways.
Awards from this fund will address circumstances where intervention is required to ensure that the trail or greenway can continue to function effectively and provide users with the recreation experience and community connectivity that was envisioned when the trail or greenway was developed.
Any 501(c)(3) public charity is eligible to apply, as well as any Tribal Entities/Nations, governmental agency, municipality or governmental unit, including school systems. In addition, innovative, collaborative combinations of these organizations are eligible.
Applicant organizations must be located in or serve the following counties of Western New York: Allegany, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie, Genesee, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming.
How to Apply
APPLY NOWGrant Opportunity
There is no maximum request.
Timeline
- Application available online February 25, 2025
- Application due April 4, 2025, by 4 p.m. No exceptions.
- Decision notification late May 2025.
Eligibility
Primarily, funds can be used for construction costs but can also be used for restoration of habitats, planting of native species, waterfront restoration and for trail amenities, such as lighting, benches, educational and interpretive kiosks, and other amenities that are an essential part of a trail restoration project.
Selection criteria will include:
- Leverage: The availability of matching funds at a minimum of $1 from a grantee’s own resources or other resources for every $1 of Trails Maintenance Grant dollars is an important consideration.
- Preferred Trails: Preference is given to projects benefiting the following trails and Greenways: Shoreline Trail; Empire State Trail; Genesee Valley Greenway; Southern Tier Trail; Northeast Greenway and Tonawanda Rail to Trail; and Scajaquada Creek Trail.
- Indication of public support for the project
- The importance of the project in the restoration of that component of the regional greenways system
- Its connectivity to the regional system
- Status of land control of the proposed project
- Evidence that the project will be on noncontaminated land and/or remediated land, or on land that can definitely be utilized by the public
- The timetable for the funded project and the likelihood of its completion in a timely manner (projects must be completed within 36 months)
- A plan for, and the necessary commitment to, long-term maintenance of the project once completed
- The ability of the partners to successfully complete the project
- Appropriate public access to the proposed project
- Evidence that a grant would play an important role in the success of the project
Contact
If you have questions about applying, please contact Colin Perry at colinp@cfgb.org.
Additional Information
Grantees will be required to display signage along the trail including at intersections, gateways, mile markers or places of interest and represent, market and promote projects funded through a grant from the Fund using logos, signage and markings approved in advance by the Community Foundation. Evidence of signage will be required in grant outcome reporting.