Next Level Trails FAQs

Applicants for regionally significant projects may request a maximum of $5 million and minimum of $250,000 in grant assistance. Applicants for locally significant projects may request a maximum of $2 million and minimum of $200,000. Applicants are limited to one application per round

Applicants are limited to one application per round. Applicants may NOT submit both a regional and local application; only one or the other. However, multiple applications may be submitted from within the same community or county as long as they come from separate, but eligible applicants.

No. Sidewalks, bike lanes, and other on-road facilities are not an eligible cost. Additionally, they cannot be used as match. These types of facilities can play an important role in safe bicycle and pedestrian connectivity, but the Next Level Trails program is focused on developing and connecting trails. If including sidewalks or bike lanes in your map, please be sure to clearly denote this.

Basic amenities include benches, bike racks, trash cans, directional signage, trail markings, trail counters, pet waste stations, and modest lighting near intersections and trailheads. Trailheads, which may include parking, restrooms, water fountains, picnic tables, shade structures, and nodes are also eligible costs if needed. All trailhead and node facilities must be accessible to persons with disabilities. Sidewalks, bike lanes, interpretive signage, lighting of the entire corridor, playgrounds, splash pads, dog parks, phone apps, etc. are NOT eligible costs in the NLT program.

The desired width for a hard-surface, multi-use trail is 10-12 feet wide to provide safe passage between bicycles and pedestrians. Wider trails may be allowed depending on context. Eight-foot wide trails are the absolute minimum acceptable width and should only be used in certain situations. Widths smaller than 8 feet are generally considered sidewalk and are not an eligible cost.

Acceptable hard-surface types include concrete, asphalt, and crushed stone. Crushed stone surfaces must include compactable “fines” to provide a firm and stable surface. Treated lumber or composite boardwalk is acceptable for crossing wetlands or flood-prone areas, as needed.

Recommended grade for a multi-use trail is 5% running slope or less, and cross slope should be 2% or less. Please consult the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) for guidance on multi-use trail signage and crossings. The Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is another good resource for trail design guidelines.

Motorized trails and water trails are not eligible for this program.

Partners provide substantial financial or other valuable resources to the project. Partners generally commit to donate money, land, labor, materials, or other services. Supporters, on the other hand, may encourage the development of the project without providing resources. Supporters generally offer public endorsements and/or letters of support.

Please check the Visionary Trails System Map.

Projects that are constructed in a road right-of-way (ROW), often called side paths, are eligible. Applicants using ROW must demonstrate that they control the ROW or have written permission from the entity that does control the ROW. Applicants seeking the use of INDOT ROW must contact their District Office about approval prior to applying. Applicants using ROW should also include documentation that the project is of public knowledge. This may include publicly available plans, planning documents, newspaper articles, public meeting minutes, etc.

Your NLT project may be part of larger trail project or network, an active transportation plan, park project, quality of life initiative, or re-development plan. However, in order not to confuse our NLT reviewers and rating committee, please focus your application on the scope of work you are requesting Next Level Trails grant funds for. In particular, the application form should only reflect your specific NLT project. Larger projects or initiatives can be referenced in the Regional or Comprehensive Plans, Site or Conceptual Maps, or the Project Narrative sections of your application packet, but please make sure your application clearly differentiates between the larger project and the one you are applying for NLT funds for.

Applications and attachments must be submitted electronically to nextleveltrails@dnr.IN.gov.

The application window for the fourth round of funding begins July 1, 2023 and ends August 1, 2023 at 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT.

Yes, multiple maps will be accepted and may be necessary to best show all the information relevant to your project in a clear manner. All applications should have at least one site or comprehensive map and one parcel map and table, if the project includes land acquisition. For more information on maps, see the Application Handbook.

Applicants not awarded funds in previous rounds may re-apply for the next round. All returning applicants must submit a new application form and packet to nextleveltrails@dnr.IN.gov by the application deadline. Returning applicants are welcome to amend or alter their applications as desired. Applicants are encouraged to include a table of contents within their application packet. Please note: Applications that were determined ineligible in a previous round will need to address those items in order to be considered in the next round.

Grantees are not required to hire consultants under the NLT program. However, any professional services, such as design, engineering and project management, that are hired and compensated with Next Level Trails funds are encouraged to be performed by an entity that is INDOT pre-qualified. More information regarding professional services categories and a list of INDOT pre-qualified consultants can be found on INDOT’s website.

Questions can be sent to nextleveltrails@dnr.IN.gov.

Applicants currently under contract for an existing DNR trail grant including NLT, ITP, RTP, or LWCF may apply for a new project in Round 4. The new project must be outside the scope of any current DNR trail grant. The status of the applicant’s existing NLT project will be of consideration.

Applicants who have completed their round 1, 2, or 3 project may apply in Round 4.