Access digital copies of guides and regulations publications from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Issue link: http://digital.outdoornebraska.gov/i/1521208
IDENTIFY YOUR SUPPORT CAPACITY In what ways can your team, partners, and stakeholders help? • Can you raise funds or if eligible, apply for and manage grants? • Are you able to build the trail or supply tools? • Do members of your group have professional expertise in design, engineering, etc. or a license or expertise to operate heavy equipment – or do they have connections to those that do? • Can your team, partners, or stakeholders make a commitment to long-term maintenance of the trail including maintaining winter access? • Consider building relationships with entities that can help maintain the trail or support the longevity in other ways such as litter cleanups, installation of benches, etc. OBTAIN A COST ESTIMATE How much will your trail cost? • Who on your team can help create a cost estimate? • Is a city, community engineer, or contractor able to create an estimate? • If you are working with a volunteer group, do they have previous experience with cost estimation or budget creation for trail building? Consider the longevity of your project. For example, concrete is more expensive up front, but gravel requires more long-term maintenance. Check out the Design section for more information on trail surfacing options and considerations. CREATE A TIMELINE How long will your project take? • Who on your team can estimate the time it will take for each step of your project? • How do all the factors of the project influence the timeline? • What milestones will help keep the project on track? Use the answers to these questions to guide you in writing your trail project proposal. Your proposal should summarize your project details and sell your idea, so stakeholders feel inclined to get involved. Include objectives, goals, timeline, and at least a general budget. Beginning work on identifying funding will also provide information about project benefits and budget for your proposal. Consider including conceptual drawings or pictures as they help readers visualize your project. Outlining the benefits of the trail project along with the management and maintenance of the trail is also beneficial. A paved hiking trail at the Riverside Discovery Center in Scottsbluff offers views of Scotts Bluff National Monument. Visit the RTP database to look at similar projects: RecreationalTrailsInfo.org TIME TO PAUSE The project proposal is a big undertaking! Look back over it before sharing it out. Did you consider feasibility? Did you also identify funding sources? If so, it's time to get out there and engage the public. 15 CREATE A PROJECT PROPOSAL