Grand Canyon National Park Receives Active Trails Grant

Grand Canyon National Park Receives Active Trails Grant
Date: July 21, 2011
Contact: Shannan Marcak, 928-638-7958


Grand Canyon, AZ – Grand Canyon National Park was recently awarded a National Park Foundation grant to support the launch of Grand Canyon Active Trails, a new, innovative project that encourages community members and visitors alike to get out and explore their national park. The grant is part of the National Park Foundation’s Active Trails program which promotes healthy lifestyles through various forms of recreation and volunteer service on land and water trails in national parks.

“Grand Canyon National Park’s Active Trails program is an exciting opportunity to introduce the community to our growing trail network,” said Donna Richardson, Deputy Chief of Interpretation at Grand Canyon National Park. Through a series of planned bicycle tours, guided hikes, and rim walks, participants will accumulate and track the miles they have traveled in a "Grand Canyon Passport." The passport will not only serve as a means to record and track their activity, but will provide valuable information about the park. As participants gain mileage, they will be rewarded with fun incentives encouraging them to increase their mileage, as well as their participation in park activities.

An Active Trails Prelude Event is planned for Saturday, July 23.All are invited to participate in a 1.5 mile walk from the Verkamp’s Visitor Center to the Park Headquarters Building.Participants should meet at Verkamp’s Visitor Center at 9 a.m. and are encouraged to wear comfortable walking shoes, a hat and sunscreen, and to bring drinking water and rain gear.

Snacks will be provided at Park Headquarters at the conclusion of the event. Questions concerning the Grand Canyon Active Trails program will be taken at that time. Everyone is welcome to attend. Children under the age of 12 must attend with an adult.

“With these grants, we’re actively encouraging Americans to personally connect with their national parks through fun and engaging activities that not only promote a healthy lifestyle, but also help protect and preserve some of the most treasured places on earth for generations to come,” said Neil Mulholland, President and CEO of the National Park Foundation.

The National Park Foundation, in partnership with the Coca-Cola Foundation, awarded Active Trails grants to 13 national parks across the country. A full list of grantees and project descriptions is available on the National Park Foundation website at http://www.nationalparks.org/npf-at-work/our-programs/active-trails/.

The Grand Canyon Active Trails Team was assembled by long-time community resident, Park Ranger Michael Weaver, and includes Park Rangers Chris Carroll, Emily Davis, Jennifer Onufer, and Mandi Toy.

For more information on the Grand Canyon Active Trails program or on this prelude event, please e-mail Park Ranger Mike Weaver at "[email protected]".To learn more about things to do in Grand Canyon National Park, please visit our web site at http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/things2do.htm.