15.935: national trails system projects SAM.govthe national trails system objectives preserve, protect, and develop the components of the national trails system, with a strong emphasis on volunteer…

The U.S. National Park Service (NPS) awarded a $157,950 Cooperative Agreement under the National Trails System Projects program (CFDA 15.935) to the Trail Of Tears Association. The funding will support the Association's efforts to preserve, protect, and develop the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail through September 2025. Key activities include volunteer coordination, trail maintenance, interpretive signage installation, route refinement, and stakeholder engagement to enhance public access and awareness of the trail. The Association will also subcontract a portion of the funding to the Missouri Humanities Council to develop an interpretive plan focused on the Missouri segment of the historic trail.

15.935: national trails system projects SAM.govthe national trails system objectives preserve, protect, and develop the components of the national trails system, with a strong emphasis on volunteer involvement through financial assistance agreements to operate, develop, and maintain any portion of such a trail either within or outside a federally administered area. The trail of tears association will encourage private and public sector participation in the acquisition, planning, development, protection, operation, and maintenance of the trail of tears national historic trail accelerate the effort to acquire and develop the trail by securing private and public sector involvement increase private and public awareness and use of the trail and support for its complete development and support and strengthen staff capabilities and volunteer efforts of the association in taking a leading role within the private and public sector in acquiring, planning, developing, protecting, and maintaining the trail. Beneficiaries include the general public, states and or their political subdivisions, landowners, private organizations, or individuals.