Western New York Trail Town Grants fund local projects that strengthen connections between communities and the Genesee Valley Greenway, enhance visitor amenities, improve cyclist and pedestrian safety, and support placemaking. Funded by the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation and delivered by PTNY in partnership with regional stakeholders, grants typically range from $3,000 to $15,000 and require a minimum 10% match. Eligible municipalities and nonprofits in select communities along the Genesee Valley Greenway or Empire State Trail can apply to turn community plans into trail‑friendly reality. Learn more and apply below.
2027 Grant details
$60,000 will be available in competitive grants. The minimum award will be $3,000, maximum $15,000.
Matching Funds
Trail Town Grants require a local match of at least 10% of the total project budget (not the ask). The entire match may be from in-kind sources (volunteer labor, donated materials, etc.) or may be supplemented by cash. The amount funded through this project must be no more than 90% of the total project budget.
timelines
2026 Timeline
Award announcement: Early April
Projects begin: Mid-April
Interim report due: October
Final report due: April 2027
2027 Timeline
Application period opens: January 2027
Awards announced: Early April
Projects to be completed/Final reports due: April 2028
An applicant must be a corporation formed pursuant to or subject to the NYS Not-for-Profit Corporation Law.
An applicant must be classified by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization or have a Memorandum of Understanding with a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt fiscal agent.
For all applicants intending to undertake a project on property belonging to the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, the applicant will need to enter a partnership agreement with Parks. If the organization is a 501c3 or other non-profit, they will also need to show proof of insurance ($2 million aggregate). Like the State, municipalities are self-insured and therefore will not be required to show proof of insurance. The partnership agreement may take a few weeks to process. We do not require that the agreement is in place before the grant request is submitted, but the agreement must be in place before any work can be done.
For applicants intending to undertake a project on property belonging to the New York State Canal Corporation (NYSCC), applicants are required to follow NYS Canal Corporation and/or Empire State Trail and Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) design guidelines for wayfinding signs and trail amenities. NYSCC reserves the right to review and comment on any infrastructure or signage produced through the grant. Projects such as interpretive signs and murals must receive written approval on final designs by the NYSCC during the design stage prior to final design and production.
Village of Brockport
City of Lockport
Town of Wheatland/Village of Scottsville
Town/Village of Avon
Town of York
Town/Village of Geneseo
Town/Village of Perry
Town/Village of Mount Morris
Town/Village of Nunda
Town of Hume
Town of Caneadea
Town of Belfast
Town/Village of Cuba
apply
Application Process for 2026 is Closed
Eligible municipalities, nonprofits, and organizations interested in applying for a Trail Town Grant must first create an account using a database reporting system (Foundant). Once registered, you will be able to see the grant application and follow the steps to apply.
When creating an account, provide the email address of the person ultimately responsible for the grant administration. Parks & Trails New York will communicate all pertinent information to this email address.
If you have an account from applying for a different PTNY grant, you do not need to create another account.
To register, visit the online application and reporting system.
Once in the dashboard of our online application system, select Apply. From there, select the grant for which you would like to apply (it should be the only choice).
Be sure to answer all questions completely and upload all correct documents.
You may work on your application over time. Your responses will be saved automatically. Your application will not be submitted until you hit the submit button. Once you submit the application, you will no longer be able to edit it.
Is my trail town allowed to submit grant applications for multiple projects?
Yes, applications will be accepted for multiple projects, either as one application or as separate applications. However, we will not award more than $15,000 total to any one community
Can I see all of the application questions before I start filling out the application?
Yes, once you’ve created an application, click on the “Question List” in the upper right hand corner, where you can download and review a PDF of all of the application questions.
When can projects start?
We will announce funding awards in early April, after which we will enter into a grant agreement with the selected grant recipients. Projects can begin at any time, and reimbursement for costs incurred before the grant agreements are finalized is possible, but funding cannot be guaranteed until the agreements are settled.
If awarded, when will I receive funding? Is it a cash grant or reimbursement-based grant?
Funding will be awarded in two installments. The first installment will include 75% of the award, and will be distributed on a cash basis after grant agreements are finalized. The second installment will include the remaining 25% and will require an accounting of all costs incurred and submission of a 6-month interim report.
How do I determine the value of volunteer time?
We suggest using the Current Estimated National Value found at: independentsector.org. There is also a Volunteer Time Tracking Tool available in the Resources section below.
Will partial grants be awarded?
Depending on the asks in the proposal as well as the competition for the round, we may decide that only certain elements of the project are deemed worth funding. If that is the case, we will work with you to develop an updated budget based on the awarded amount, as well as an adjustment for the matched amount.
When do we receive the funds?
Awarded projects receive funds in two installments: The first (75% of the award, will be received at the time of the grant announcement. The remaining 25% will be received when an interim report has been submitted after 6 months.
RESOURCES
- Shared Resource Library
- A collection of documents, guidelines, images, and more shared by grant awardees
- Project Budget Template Worksheet
- Match Calculator Tool
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Resources
- Sample MOU with Fiscal Agent (for organizations who lack 501(c)(3) status)
- Volunteer Time-tracking Tool
AWARDS
Town of Belfast ($15,000) to improve connectivity between the Genesee Valley Greenway and the town core with wayfinding and safety signage, an info kiosk, new bike racks, and an interactive engagement rubbing station project featuring trailside plates and a reward system hosted at the local library to encourage town exploration.
Village of Scottsville ($7,022) for placemaking signage identifying three municipal parks and the creation of a pollinator garden at Canawaugus Park.
Village of Avon ($15,000) for parking lot improvements at the Five Arch Bridge trailhead including prep work and asphalt installation to provide safer access and egress for users of Five Arch Bridge/Avon Driving Park trails.
Village of Brockport ($3,600) to develop and print new brochures to be distributed from the Village’s welcome center. The materials will contain information about Brockport’s connections to the Erie Canalway Trail and other local recreational opportunities.
Village of Mount Morris ($14,553) to improve safety and accessibility in its frequently used Pocket Park by replacing deteriorated surfaces with a durable brick paver walkway and repairing structural walls. These improvements will create a more welcoming and inclusive gathering space for the community.
Village of Perry ($4,824) for beautification efforts along the popular Silver Lake Trail including new historical interpretive signage and improved seating.
- Town of Wheatland ($15,000) for improvements to the 60-acre Indian Allan Park adjacent to the Genesee Valley Greenway creating access for pedestrians and cyclists into the parkland’s scenic riparian features of Oatka Creek and pathways through the open fields.
- Village of Brockport ($12,349) for the purchase and installation of bike racks and inclusive wayfaring signage at Brockport’s popular downtown and waterfront destinations near the Erie Canalway Trail.
- Village of Perry ($8,996) for the installation of a bicycle repair station and a water filling station at the Memorial Park/Main St trailhead.
- RVER (Regional Ventures in Economic Revitalization) Group / Town of Caneadea ($7,115) to install light pole banners on the main road through the town’s three hamlets and signage at each end of town creating a more unified visitor experience.
- Town of Mount Morris ($7,487) to enhance the visitor experience by adding new benches on Main Street, installing a water filling station on the Genesee Valley Greenway, and to attract more visitors to the nearby Powell Park and kayak launch by installing new signage from the trail.
- Lockport Main Street ($4,050) to create a brochure map of the City of Lockport designed to connect visitors and users of the Empire State Trail to local businesses, amenities, and attractions.
- Letchworth Gateway Villages ($3,756) to print and distribute brochures and rack cards to highlight and promote individual Genesee Valley Trail Towns.
- Village of Avon ($3,000) for the installation of a water fill and pet station in the Erie-Attica trailhead park.
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View press release for list of awards
View press release for list of awards