ALSTEAD, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) – Distant Hill Accessible Nature Trail and Pavilion Project is the winner of a $10,000 grant as part of the annual Kubota Hometown Proud grant program hosted by the Kubota Tractor Corporation.

In its fourth year, the grant program is aimed at providing support across the country for local nonprofit organizations and their unique initiatives. The Alstead project was nominated by Distant Hill Nature Trail and supported by local Kubota dealer Pinnacleview Equipment and is one of 20 winners up for a public vote that could turn the $10,000 grant into a $50,000 grant.

Distant Hill Nature Trail, which straddles the town-lines of Walpole and Alstead, has a mission to make nature accessible to everyone, and to teach visitors the importance of nature and the outdoors to their overall health and wellness. Over the past decade,  two miles of wheelchair and stroller accessible trails, miles of hiking trails, a geology trail, a children’s story book trail, and a nature play area were added. This summer, with the help of Kubota, the organization’s hope is build another half mile of accessible trail and a timber frame pavilion for classes, community events, picnics, and more.

With the $10,000 Kubota grant, plans are to purchase the gravel and trail fabric needed to build another half mile of wheelchair and stroller accessible nature trail with a 40-year-old Kubota L-2550, finishing a loop trail that on which work began last summer. Should the trail project win the $50,000 grant, that plan would include purchasing a much-need solar array with batteries to supply off-grid power to the new accessible community pavilion, and wheelchair accessible picnic tables for the space.

Until Aug. 14 at 11:59 p.m., the public is encouraged to visit KubotaHometownProud.com and rally for their hometown project by casting a vote for their project of choice. Each vote submitted will be entered into a sweepstakes for the chance to win a Kubota residential Z200 Series zero-turn mower on BX Series sub-compact tractor. Voters can make selections once a day to increase the odds of winning. The community projects with the most votes will be announced in September.