OGDEN -- The Weber County RAMP Recreation and Parks Committee voted Thursday to recommend funding for 18 projects.
The committee discussed and ranked each application last week. On Thursday, the committee went through the top-ranked applications to see how much money each would need, with the hopes of funding as many projects as possible until they ran out of money.
"This has been great," Committee Chairwoman Stephanie Christiansen said. "It has been a great year. We were lucky to fund more than half, which hasn't been the case in previous years."
This year, the committee had $691,000 to distribute out of the $2.6 million total 2011 RAMP funds, which pay for major projects, parks and recreation, arts and museums, EZ grants and municipal grants. The committee reviewed more than 30 applications.
The largest project is a plan to develop the Pineview Loop Parkway, a request by Weber Pathways. The committee voted to recommend the total requested amount of $183,000.
With the funding, Weber Pathways plans to pave the trail and add three bridges and a boardwalk over a marsh area. The continuous trail will be available to bicycles, runners and strollers. When completed, it will be similar to the Centennial trail, which runs from the Dinosaur Park in Ogden to Riverdale.
The committee tried to fully fund as many projects as it could. Members understand that many of the applications require all of the money requested to complete the projects. Other revenue sources are not as readily available this year as they have been in previous years.
If money is not spent or a project is not completed, the money returns to RAMP.
However, not all of the applications received all of the funds requested.
The committee recommended $8,000 for Oasis Community Garden rest rooms, out of the $85,227 requested by the Junior League of Ogden. The additional money was to build shading.
The U.S. Forest Service received less than half of the money it requested for reconstruction and maintenance of trails.
In the end, the committee looks to spread the money across the county as much as possible and to concentrate on programs that will benefit as many residents as possible.
"Over the span of six years, there isn't a city or community that hasn't been largely impacted," Christiansen said.
The advisory board will approve the recommendations at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Weber County Commission conference room. Final approval of the applications will be made March 15 by the Weber County Commission. Funds are not guaranteed until then. A meeting for EZ grants will take place at 1 p.m. May 5.
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