Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Equestrian Access Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Riders press for equestrian access and staff outlines near‑term grant opportunities
Summary
Committee members urged that equestrian use be included in trail and bridge design; staff said several state grant programs will open soon and advised early coordination and public meetings to improve competitiveness.
Members of the committee and local equestrian volunteers urged that the county explicitly include horse and stock use in trail and bridge design and highlighted longstanding county planning documents that reference equestrian facilities.
Wendy Brown, a committee member and long‑time equestrian volunteer, said she had asked local packers and riding groups to submit a letter supporting equestrian and stock use on public trails and cited an older Bicycle, Pedestrian and Equestrian Facilities Plan (implementation measure 9‑3) plus references in the county’s Recreation and Resiliency Master Plan. Brown said local groups already partner with the Sierra National Forest and the Backcountry Horsemen on trail maintenance.
County staff said several state and federal funding opportunities are expected to open soon (the meeting referenced “prop 4” funding and statewide parks grant rounds). Staff warned that some grant programs have strict eligibility criteria — for example, programs that require proximity to population centers — and advised committee members that successful applications typically require early public outreach and program‑specific public meetings at the project site. Staff recommended preparing a prioritized list of shovel‑ready ideas the county can use when funding announcements are released.
Why it matters: including equestrian needs in trail design affects bridge width, surface and maintenance plans and can affect grant eligibility; early engagement and aligned applications will improve competitiveness for large state grants, staff said.
