ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — More than $5 million has been awarded to communities in New York state for snowmobile trail maintenance and grooming.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the funding Thursday and designated the weekend of Feb. 2-5 as a free snowmobiling weekend for out-of-state and Canadian residents.

The Democratic governor says the state is providing $4 million in grants for snowmobile trail maintenance, a 15 percent increase from last year. The grants support more than 10,000 miles of designated snowmobile trails. The money comes from snowmobile registration fees.

In addition, the state parks office has authorized more than $1 million in federal Recreational Trail Program grants to help seven snowmobile clubs buy equipment to maintain trails.

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