Special to the Daily News

CHARLESTON — The Hatfield-McCoy recreational trails has received three $40,000 grants in Logan, Mingo and McDowell counties as part of the 2012 Recreational Trails Program.

Grants of $40,000 each will go to the Hatfield-McCoy Browning Fork trail in Logan and Mingo counties; the Hatfield and McCoy Indian Ridge trail in McDowell County; and the Hatfield-McCoy Buffalo Mt. trail in Mingo County.

Jeff Lusk, Director of the Hatfield-McCoy Trails Authority, said the money will be used for several sections of the Trail.

“We are working to expand,” Lusk said. “We want to connect the Buffalo Mountain trail in Mingo County to Bear Wallow in Logan and to Rock House in Man. We also want to connect the trail system to the Hatfield Cemetery.”

He said the popularity of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud has brought a lot of attention to the trails system.

Among other upkeeps and maintenance, the Trail Authority will also use funds from the grants to get more single tracks built into the system to be used by dirt bikes, Lusk said.

Although the grants have been announced, the money won’t actually be awarded until next fall, and so any construction will take place in spring of 2014.

The grants, presented to Delegate White by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin in conjunction with the Federal Highway Administration and the West Virginia Division of Highways, were among 22 worth $1.19 million in federal funds given out last week.

“These trails are extremely important to tourism and economic development in our region, so I am thankful that this kind of federal funding is available to help improve and maintain them,” Delegate Harry Keith White said.

“I am grateful to Gov. Tomblin, the Division of Highways and the Recreational Trail Advisory Board for selecting our trails for these generous grants,” Delegate White said.