Rock creek park trail accessibility improvement crews

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) awarded $319,026 to the District of Columbia on September 16, 2025, under the Recreational Trails Program (CFDA 20.219) to support trail accessibility improvements in Rock Creek Park. The District of Columbia, through its Department of Public Works, is partnering with the Student Conservation Association (SCA) to employ youth members and adult crew leaders to improve existing formal trails and forest conditions across three designated park areas: Fort Slocum Park, Battery Kemble Park, and Reservation 339. The project will also address environmental degradation by closing social and unofficial trails throughout Rock Creek Park.

The grant will fund workforce development and trail infrastructure improvements over a two-year period concluding September 1, 2027. This award aligns with the Recreational Trails Program's eligible uses, specifically supporting trail maintenance and restoration, youth conservation corps employment, and trail-related facility improvements on non-federal lands. By engaging youth crews in trail stewardship activities, the project advances both recreational access and environmental protection objectives while building local conservation workforce capacity.

Project description

The student conservation association (SCA) will work in partnership with NPS in two sections of rock creek park to employ youth members and adult crew leaders to improve exisitng formal trails and forest conditions and to close social and unofficial trails in fort slocum park, battery kemble park, and reservation 339 (throughout rock creek park).