1/5/2026 – Challis Community Trail Alliance (CCTA) Signing Project

Notice for comments.

The CCTA is seeking funding through the Idaho Mountain Bike Plate Grant administered by the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation to acquire trail signage to be used on city and federal lands to assist trail users in identifying where they are, as well as clearly marking winter trails for fat biking enthusiasts. 

This is where you are signs will be a small version of the Challis Foothills Trail System Map, to be placed at critical junctions with locations clearly identified with an arrow marking that junction. The assorted winter trail markers will include diamonds that can be placed on trees as well as orange snow stakes that can be placed in the meadow areas on the Big Hill Nordic Area.  The group is seeking total funding of $1,500 with a CCTA match of five percent.

To comment, please direct your responses in one of three ways. 

1. By mail to, Challis Community Trails Alliance,  P.O. Box 862, Challis, ID 83226
2. Electronically via Contact page https://challistrails.org/contact-us/
3. Or, direct to challismtb@gmail.com

Your comments will be most helpful if they are submitted prior to January 23, 2026.

If you have any questions feel free to reach out to David Morris (Secretary of CCTA) at challismtb@gmail.com

8/1/2025 — The City of Challis has partnered with the Challis Community Trails Alliance (CCTA) to apply for an Idaho Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to enhance and upgrade Challis City Parks. We are seeking support for this initiative.

The Idaho Community Development Block Grant program (CDBG) assists Idaho cities and counties in developing essential public infrastructure. While public utility upgrades and improvements are commonly thought of, the program also provides funding for park maintenance and improvements. The grant is administered by the Idaho Department of Commerce and receives funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The City of Challis is eligible for this grant because its population is less than 50,000 and meets the income eligibility requirements. The grant award value is up to $250,000, and the application is due each September.

The City of Challis owns two parks: Blue Mountain Pond and Centennial Park. Both parks were established in the early 1990s. The City’s current park budget only covers general maintenance and upkeep, leaving no funds for upgrades or improvements to the existing infrastructure. After 25 years, the current park infrastructure is showing signs of wear and tear, and some structures need replacement.

The CCTA discovered this opportunity after discussing it with previous mayors and grant administrators during other projects. Early last winter, the CCTA approached the council to inquire about their interest in partnering with us to undertake this endeavor. This spring, the CCTA compiled an upgrade list for both parks and presented it to the council for prioritization.

We are requesting letters of support, letters of commitment, or even cash matches for the City of Challis. While the grant doesn’t mandate a match, it demonstrates the community’s support for the city parks and ongoing efforts to make improvements. Our goal is to secure a cash match of around $10,000 to $20,000 or any in-kind match that includes construction materials or pledges to purchase infrastructure items such as new picnic tables, benches, and so on. However, it’s important to note that the match becomes applicable only if the city is awarded a grant.

Any cash or commitment would be greatly appreciated