GRANTS PASS – The development of Dollar Mountain into an outdoor recreation area for the enjoyment of community residents will soon be one step closer thanks to a grant awarded the City of Grants Pass by the National Parks Service. The technical assistance grant will help the city develop a master plan for Dollar Mountain.
The Dollar Mountain property is west of Starlite Drive and east of Pinecrest Drive. This land is approximately 444 acres which can be used to develop a useable trail system for hiking and biking, similar in size and scope to Cathedral Hills.
The grant is for technical assistance, not a cash award, but stands to save the city a considerable amount of money.
“This saves us the significant cost of hiring consultants to perform this work. The NPS experts will provide their services for the development of the master plan and actively engage the public as part of the process,” said Wendy Giordano, superintendent of Parks and Property Management.
The National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (NPS-RTCA) program supports community-led natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation projects across the nation. Their planning work often leads to successful grant applications for the construction of trails. Part of what they do is effectively engage the public as part of the process.
Their national network of conservation and recreation planning professionals partners with community groups, nonprofits, tribes, and state and local governments to design trails and parks, conserve and improve access to rivers, protect special places, and create recreation opportunities.
To learn more about this program and see examples of how the NPS-RTCA has helped other Oregon communities plan their trail park systems go to https://www.nps.gov/orgs/rtca/index.htm
Residents can also provide feedback to the city regarding Dollar Mountain plans through a survey available at the city’s website: https://www.grantspassoregon.gov/1209/Dollar-Mountain
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