Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) Green Networks
Federal Fiscal Year 2026 Grant Application
for bike/pedestrian transportation trail construction, land restoration, and/or tree planting
DEADLINE for this application is January 9, 2026 at 4:30 PM (CST)
Metroplan's CPRG Green Networks Trail Construction Pass-Through Grant is intended to award projects that reduce pollution from greenhouse gases. Projects must be construction ready with design completed or nearly completed and right of way fully or substantially acquired.
Metroplan's CPRG Land Restoration Pass-Through Grant funds projects that improve air quality and carbon sequestration through the restoration of natural areas. Eligible land restoration activities include (but are not limited to) invasive species removal and management, prairie and riparian buffer establishment, erosion control, reforestation, and increasing biodiversity with native plants. Restoration will be categorized by activities within the following land types: forest, prairie, wetland/floodplain, riparian area, or stream/riverbank.
Metroplan's CPRG Tree Planting Pass-Through Grant is intended to fund projects that oversee tree planting activities (primarily saplings) in parks, right-of-ways, neighborhoods, and other urban environments. Eligible tree planting activities include (but are not limited to) plant materials, growing containers, soil and amendments, site preparation, education, and watering.
Link to view urbanized areas as defined by Metroplan: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/edit?mid=1wF5Ftdz0oyyBl49PBcBjc8H1eg0TXUQ&usp=sharing
| Pass-Through Grant |
Total Available |
Required Match |
| Trail Construction |
$2,318,400 |
see below |
| Land Restoration |
$5,184,000 |
none |
| Tree Planting |
$1,600,000 |
none |
Eligible Entities include Central Arkansas City and County governments and departments, as well as State, quasi-governmental and non-governmental not-for-profit organizations, and/or coalitions that have a letter of support from the City and/or County jurisdiction that the project will be implemented in.
CPRG Trail Construction Requirements
- Recipients are required to pay for other phases of the project (ex: design/engineering, right-of-way, or construction inspection) or a portion of the construction with local funds. Total local investment in the overall project must represent at least 20% of the total project cost.
- Trail construction proposals must have at least 60% design completion required.
- Awarded trail construction projects must meet the following timeline to retain their award:
| Milestone |
Deadline |
| 1. 90% design completion |
End of May 2026 |
| 2. Right-of-way offers made |
End of July 2026 |
| 3. Construction bid released |
End of October 2026 |
| 4. Construction begins |
No later than December 2026 |
CPRG Scoring Criteria
All eligible applications will also be evaluated based on the following CPRG criteria:
- Total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction and cost efficiency (50 points)
- Cost Efficiency = Estimated Cost/MTCO₂e (metric tons of carbon dioxide or equivalent emissions) reduced or sequestered by the project (Metroplan will assist with these calculations)
- Project implementation and maintenance plan (30 points)
- Implementation timeframe (10 points)
- Connection to multimodal transportation infrastructure (10 points)
Trail applications will also be scored using Metroplan's standard criteria for Regional Greenways and Major Connectors to determine projects that align best with the Long-Range Metropolitan Transportation Plan and Central Arkansas Regional Greenways Plan.
Metroplan's goal is to fund projects across the Central Arkansas region and reserves the right to partially fund projects.
Questions?
Application Procedure: Bernadette Rhodes at brhodes@metroplan.org or Leesa Freasier at lfreasier@metroplan.org.
Technical/Content Questions: Brittany Nichols at bnichols@metroplan.org.
Phone: (501) 372-3300