The 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…

The National Park Service awarded a $1.86 million Cooperative Agreement to the National Pony Express on September 25, 2025, under the National Trails System Projects program (CFDA 15.935). The award supports the organization's volunteer-driven efforts to preserve, protect, and develop resources along the Pony Express National Historic Trail. Key deliverables include trail interpretation and educational programming, resource preservation and protection activities, and public access and recreational opportunity improvements across the multi-state trail corridor. The organization will execute communication, outreach, and community engagement initiatives to enhance public awareness and appreciation of the historic trail's significance.

The cooperative agreement, which extends through September 30, 2026, emphasizes volunteer coordination and engagement across trail communities while supporting activities aligned with the USA250th celebration scheduled for fiscal year 2026. Products and services will benefit diverse stakeholder groups including the general public, state and local governments, landowners, and private organizations. The work will be performed from the Santa Fe, New Mexico location and designed to foster multi-state collaboration in trail stewardship and historical preservation efforts.

The 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. This project aims to enhance the national pony express associations volunteer efforts to improve public access and recreational opportunities along the pony express national historic trail. Activities will focus on interpretation, preservation, and protection of trail resources while promoting awareness through communication, events, and outreach initiatives, particularly in alignment with the USA250TH celebration in FY26. The project seeks to engage multi-state trail communities and the general public, fostering a deeper appreciation for this historic route and its significance.beneficiaries include the general public, states and or their political subdivisions, landowners, private organizations, or individuals.