16 Aug Tread Lightly! Completes 25 Partner-Funded Restoration for Recreation Projects across Nation

SALT LAKE CITY, August 16, 2016 – To celebrate its 25^th anniversary, Tread Lightly! awarded funding to complete 25 Restoration for Recreation projects throughout the United States. These projects were completed thanks to more than 1,400 volunteers that lent a helping hand and funding from Yamaha’s Outdoor Access Initiative, Federal Premium Ammunition, Bushnell and the Dallas Safari Club.

The initiative, nicknamed 25–for-25, supported 25 projects in a total of 18 states.  Each project was spearheaded by Tread Lightly!’s agency partners or members, including enthusiast clubs, Boy Scout troops, and individuals.

Projects focused on strategies to keep recreational areas healthy, open and accessible.  The projects themselves ranged from educational signage, trail system expansion, trail resurfacing, volunteer cleanups, trail markers, fencing, campground improvements, and blind construction, target shooting supplies, recycling collection, an educational film, erosion mitigation and trail repair.

“A big part of the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative’s mission is to provide practical support for efforts that protect appropriate and sustainable access to public lands,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s ATV/SxS group marketing manager. “Tread Lightly!’s 25-for-25 program is a great example of putting that mission into action by supporting off-road and outdoor enthusiasts with hands-on projects across the country.”

The completion of these projects took nearly 12,000 volunteer hours, valued at over $270,000. Tread Lightly! estimates that 58 tons of trash were removed from public lands, nearly 3,000 miles of trails were enhanced and restored and over 66,000 acres of land were enhanced thanks to the hard work of the awardees.

“Federal Premium Ammunition and Bushnell are proud partners of Tread Lightly! and we are pleased to see the improvements these projects have made on our public lands,” said Ryan Bronson, Director of Conservation for Vista Outdoor, the parent company of Bushnell and Federal Premium. customers’ continued access to these lands for a wide variety of outdoor activities.”

The 25–for-25 program is part of Tread Lightly!’s Restoration for Recreation initiative, which is designed to raise money from the private sector to protect and maintain recreation opportunities by restoring damaged areas and degraded trails into enjoyable recreation resources.

“We are thrilled with the outcome of this program,” said Tread Lightly!’s Director, Lori McCullough.  “Thanks to our generous partners and the volunteers and organizers, we’ve made a real difference in the quality of recreation in this country and significantly impacted public lands in a positive way.”

For descriptions of each project, go to treadlightly.org/projects.

About Tread Lightly!

Tread Lightly! is a national nonprofit organization with a mission to promote responsible recreation through ethics education and stewardship programs. Tread Lightly!’s educational message, along with its unique training and restoration initiatives are strategically designed to instill an ethic of responsibility in outdoor enthusiasts and the industries that serve them.  The program is long-term in scope with a goal to balance the needs of the people who enjoy outdoor recreation with our need to maintain a healthy environment.  Tread Lightly!’s award-winning materials, programs and services are solutions to some of the nation’s most pressing recreation issues. Individuals and businesses can commit to Tread Lightly! and protect outdoor access by becoming a member at www.treadlightly.org.
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