Views of the Weweantic River at Wareham’s Westgate Conservation Area are about to get better courtesy of a federal grant.

On Tuesday, Aug. 22, Senate President Pro Tempore Marc R. Pacheco (D-Taunton) announced the town will receive a federal Recreational Trails Program grant for the conservation area, located at 29 Papermill Road.

The project will fund the removal of a cranberry bog pump house blocking views of the Weweantic River and replace it with an observation deck for visitors. The project will also upgrade and improve welcoming and directional signage. The federal grant totals $3,100.

The grants are awarded to well-planned trail projects that help develop, protect, and maintain trails and trail systems for recreational use.

“The Westgate Conservation Area project will provide visitors with scenic views along the Wewantic River and I’m excited to see the results,” said Pacheco. “I’d like to thank and congratulate everyone who was involved in putting together this successful application.”

The Recreational Trails Program is a federal assistance program of the United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration that provides funding for the development and maintenance of recreational trail projects.

Federal funds are received directly from the motor fuel excise tax on off-road vehicles including ATVs and snowmobiles, and are provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Surface Transportation Act.

Grants can be used for improvements to long-distance trails, rail trail development, ATV trail maintenance, the creation and/or maintenance of municipally owned trails, among other activities. Each recipient must match their awarded grant with a minimum of 20 percent in funding or in-kind services for the designated project. The Westgate Conservation Area is one of 75 other trail projects throughout the Commonwealth funded by the federal program.