Arizona Trail a contender for $50,000 grant...again!

[sirena]

Just one click, once a day, can earn the Arizona Trail $50K!
Details at http://www.aztrail.org or

http://www.blazethetrail.com/greatoutdoors/

The Arizona Trail has again been selected to compete for the Redwood Creek Greater Outdoors Project grant. Yes, Arizona Trail supporters tried very hard last year but our project came in second. Happily, contest rules have changed, but it still comes down to the project with the most votes earns top honors and the $50K.

Do you know that:

– As one of nine finalists in the 2010 Redwood Creek Greater Outdoors Project, the ATA is automatically awarded a grant of $10,000

– The top vote-getting finalist will receive $50,000

– This year’s voting is ONLINE only (i.e. no more texting)

– The contest period is longer, April 1, 2010 to August 31, 2010. Voting can be done daily.

Your daily ONLINE vote will help to win $50,000 – please vote every day.


How To Vote Every Day – From April 1, 2010 through midnight on August 31, 2010, you can vote ONLINE every day at http://www.BlazeTheTrail.com/GreatOutdoors/ for the Arizona Trail project (and please ask your friends to vote, too).

Twitterers: A pop-up appears after you vote that will take you to Twitter if you click it. Be sure to change “your favorite project” to “the Arizona Trail” in your tweet!

The Project – If the ATA wins the $50,000, the funds would help build an 11-mile reroute in the Sonoran Desert “Black Hills” passage plus help with needed trailheads and kiosks in Pima and Pinal Counties. Those Arizona Trail enhancements would be a tremendous amenity for hikers, equestrians, mountain bicyclists and all Arizona trail users.

[sirena]

Yay!!! The Arizona Trail won!! Thanks to all of you for your votes!! Trailwork will begin in November on the reroute of the trail off of the pipeline road and onto singletrack.

[PLC92084]

Good job, HAZ'ers!!

Some day I'm going to have to hike that trail!!

[big_load]

Congratulations!

[sirena]

Also, big thanks to Joe for putting the reminders on the website!!

[Sredfield]

Also, big thanks to Joe for putting the reminders on the website!!

AMEN!
This is great news!

[cindyl]

Wow! So cool!

[writelots]

Yay!!! The Arizona Trail won!! Thanks to all of you for your votes!! Trailwork will begin in November on the reroute of the trail off of the pipeline road and onto singletrack.

BIG PRAISE to everyone who voted, and DOUBLE KUDOS to Sirena and folks like her who kept reminding us of our duty to support the program!

[azdesertfather]

Apparently, according to the awarder's website, work will run from Nov. 2010 to Dec. 2011. Article:

Arizona Trail Assocation Wins $50,000 Grant in Redwood Creek Wines' "Greater Outdoor Projects"
Sep 15, 2010

After a long summer of waiting and voting, we’re proud to present the winner of this year’s Greater Outdoors Project – the Arizona Trail Association!

The Arizona nonprofit rallied in with 27,000 votes, securing this year’s $50,000 grant. Beginning November of this year, the ATA will begin construction on an 11 mile trail that will follow a ridgeline through the lush, central Arizona Sonoran desert, showing off views of a sweeping mountain range and desert valley; the new, sustainable trail would replace the current 9 mile trail that has become rocky and eroded. Construction is estimated to finish in December 2011. The Arizona National Scenic Trail as a whole is a vast 800 mile path, stretching across Arizona, to Mexico, to Utah; the ATA is dedicated to planning, developing and managing the trail for recreational and educational purposes.

The runner ups of our Greater Outdoors Project include American Forests, Catamount Trail Association, Coosa River Basin Initiative, Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition, Hudson Basin River Watch, MillionTreesNYC, Sugar Pine Foundation, The Wetlands Initiative and Yellowstone Park Foundation, who’ve all been each awarded $10,000 runner up grants to jumpstart their individual projects.

Reference: http://www.blazethetrail.com/blog/view/ ... 010/09/15/

[azdesertfather]

Does anyone know more about this project? I'm assuming this will ONLY affect segment #14?

Is it the section from Tucson Wash north past Anderson Tank & Camp Grant Wash to Yellowjacket Well/Bloodsucker Wash? If it's that 11-mile stretch, then #14 is the only one affected.

[sirena]

Yes, the reroute will only affect #14- the trail will be rerouted off the pipeline road (one of the pieces everyone complains about) and onto singletrack.

[Sredfield]

Yes, the reroute will only affect #14- the trail will be rerouted off the pipeline road (one of the pieces everyone complains about) and onto singletrack.

True AZT hikers take the trail as it comes. If you want predictability-go walk around the mall. ;)