Platte River Trails Trust expresses need for Casper City one cent funding

CASPER, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - Recent discussion in the Casper City Council has caused some stir in the community, especially around non-profits and community help organizations. Some Casper citizens are concerned that funding may be cut to these organizations, one of which is the Platte River Trails Trust.

The Trust relies on one cent funding for their projects, although much of the funding for maintenance and construction of trails are funded by grants. The one cent is essential though because it allows the Trust to receive these grants by matching a portion of what is being given to them.

“Over the past 40 years we’ve constructed a little over 20 miles of a non-motorized pathway transportation system and only 32 percent of the total dollars spent on pathways have been funded through one cent,” said Angela Emery, the Executive Director of the Platte River Trails Trust.

These grants are limited and can be applied for by any organization that meets the requirements. This means that much of the money that is currently going to Casper trails may be redirected to other places in Wyoming or out of the state if the Trails Trust doesn’t receive one cent funding.

Angela Emery said, “If Casper does not apply for these grants other communities around Wyoming will and Casper will be left out in the cold. Cheyenne currently has 44 plus miles of non motorized pathways (trails). We have just a little over 20. We’re already behind the state capital, and if we are not able to access future grant opportunities we will fall farther behind.”

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