It’ll be easier for people to explore our Bighorns backyard thanks to a grant from Provision Fund that will help build and maintain Sheridan Community Land Trust’s Red Grade Trails.
Provision Fund Stewards visited the SCLT office on March 4 to award a grant of $2,500.
Jason Szewc, Provision Fund President, said SCLT’s work to expand recreation opportunities in the community aligns well with Provision’s vision to make the outdoors enjoyable and accessible.
“We appreciate the work SCLT does to create trail systems and accessible outdoor recreational opportunities for the people of Sheridan County. It is important to help keep projects like Red Grade Trails moving forward,” Szwec remarked.
The grant will be used to help connect lower loop trails accessible from Base Trailhead to those being built higher up the mountain at the Poverty Flat and Bear Gulch East Trailheads, a connection which is planned for summer of 2022.
Once the full trail system is complete, Bauer noted, Red Grade Trails will provide visitors with 28 miles of high-quality trails open to hiking, running, walking, biking, and horseback riding among practically any other non-motorized way people choose to explore the Bighorn Mountains.
“This gift means more families can have picnics while looking out at our beautiful valley from above. It means more chances to stop and smell the wildflowers on a June afternoon or to have a ball listening to bird calls in the fall,” reasoned SCLT Executive Director Brad Bauer.
Szewc explained that the grant was made possible because of community members who partner with the Provision Fund. Community members who become “patrons” by contributing $100 annually have an active role in selecting projects they believe will make an impact in Sheridan County. A panel of ten stewards oversee Provision Fund disbursements, like the grant to SCLT to support Red Grade Trails.
“There is empowerment in people who care about their community working together to help make our community a better place. As more community members become patrons, Provision Fund can help build more projects like Red Grade Trails,” Szewc concluded.
“We’re thankful Provision Fund chose to help make this project a reality and appreciate the kindness of our community members who make Provision Fund grant’s possible,” Bauer concluded.
To learn more about the Provision Fund and how we create our future together in Sheridan County, please visit https://www.provisionfund.org/.
To view and print community trail maps, please visit https://sheridanclt.org.
Pictured above: On March 4, Provision Fund Stewards awarded a grant of $2,500 to Sheridan Community Land Trust that will be used to help connect The Base to Bear Gulch at Red Grade Trails. Pictured (l-r): Chris Walton, Provision Fund Steward; Daniel Johlman, Provision Fund Steward, and daughter, Violet Johlman; Brad Bauer, SCLT Executive Director; Jason Szewc, Provision Fund President; Meghan Kent, SCLT Conservation Program Manager; and Carrie Edinger, SCLT Historical Program Manager.
