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Saving Trails Since 1988
July 2017 "Trail Tracks" eNewsletter
What's Hot

A new era for American Trails: meet Mike Passo


Make Passo, recently appointed Executive Director of American Trails, introduces himself: "As your new director, I intend to focus on developing member benefits and engagement, increasing member input into AT’s strategic planning, working with our partners to develop more robust trail training opportunities, and cultivating AT’s engagement at every level." Read more and see photos...


Polaris ATV trails at the Summit Bechtel Reserve are full of thrilling twists and turns


This year, NOHVCC is helping with the Boy Scouts National Jamboree.  In a partnership with Polaris and the ATV Safety Institute (ASI), NOHVCC is helping to facilitate the training of nearly 1,000 Scouts and High Adventurers during the 10 days of the National Jamboree at the Bechtel Summit Reserve (BSR). 

The original blog and other articles can be found at scoutingmagazine.org.

July 20 Webinar: Getting to “yes” on community trails


The next American Trails Webinar will be held July 20. A group of experts will present "Getting to “Yes” on Greenway Trails in Your Community" to explore the social barriers to community support for trails. We will look at issues that cannot easily be engineered away and discuss ways to address fears about crime, loss of privacy, noise, and impact on property values. Read more and register for the webinar...


Features
Underground Railroad Bicycle Route: a ride through freedom


A new alternate ride on the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route takes cyclists to historical and cultural sites in the Dayton, Ohio region. The bulk of the route follows paved, off-road trails with much of it along the Great Miami River, which was used by slaves seeking freedom in the North. Read more and see photos...


Colorado Fourteeners Initiative’s Sustainable Trails Program


Colorado’s iconic “Fourteeners,” the 54 peaks exceeding 14,000 feet in elevation, draw a half-million hikers annually. During its 18-year existence, Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, a nonprofit partner of the U.S. Forest Service, has constructed 26 sustainable summit routes on 24 peaks to facilitate hiking access while protecting fragile alpine tundra ecosystems. Read more and see photos...


Featured Recreational Trails Program project: Talisi Riverwalk, Alabama


The project expands the Riverwalk trail through Tallassee, AL following the water's edge of Lake Talisi. The Riverwalk, which includes a boardwalk and connecting bike lanes, has encouraged more physical activity and provided greater accessibility to meet the needs of the growing community. Read more and see photos...


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Featured National Recreation Trail: Maah Daah Hey Trail, North Dakota


The Maah Daah Hey Trail is a 96-mile long recreational trail that winds its way through the rugged badlands and rolling prairies of western North Dakota. For mountain bike touring, there are six campgrounds on the trail, one at each trailhead and four others spaced about twenty miles apart. Read more and see photos...


 
News
The future of urban trails: routes for electric vehicles?


There are thousands of miles of recreational and commuter pathways nationwide, but few are listed as allowing electric vehicles. One that does is in Peachtree City, Georgia. The 100 miles of asphalt, multi-use trails are primarily for walking, cycling and inline skating, but golf carts and other electric vehicle are welcome. Read more and see photos...


Color-coded wayfinding signs guide Colorado greenway users


The Denver Post reports that many new users are among the thousands who bike, skate, run, and walk along the Mary Carter Greenway Trail. "More than 80 new signs placed along the trail this past winter will help direct people no matter what time they’re on the popular path. South metro Denver officials said the clean and clear signs are an upgrade to the popular amenity that was long overdue." Read more and see photos…


Public pushes Atlanta Beltline connection to Silver Comet Trail


The PATH Foundation and Connect the Comet are working to bridge the gap between Atlanta’s popular Beltline and the Silver Comet Trail. They delivered 4,000 signatures to Gov. Nathan Deal’s office in hopes of triggering further dialogue. Connected trails, they argue, will boost tourism, property values, and recreation opportunities for all. Read more and see photos...


Economic benefits of trails: not all see it that way


"As cities look to get greener, lower-income residents fear gentrification," a recent USA Today headline ran. The popularity of new urban greenways raises a new question: How do you add green space in lower-income areas without inevitably setting those populations up to be displaced by more well-heeled neighbors looking to enjoy the amenities? Read more and see photos...


International News

Australian leaders support trail on dormant rail line


Transport and Infrastructure Minister Andrew Constance of New South Wales introduced a bill into Parliament, calling for the transformation of 22 km of track, which had not been in operation since 1974. The dormant train line between Tumbarumba and Rosewood is on track to become the historic first cycling rail trail in NSW. Read article and commentary and see an additional article...


Olle Trail opens in Mongolia’s grasslands


New trails totally 25 km have been opened to improve access for visitors to Mongolia's national parks. The trail work is supported by the Jeju Olle Foundation of Korea, which is a major sponsor of the World Trails Conference. Other partners in the new trails are the Jeju Tourism Organization and Ulaanbarrtar city. Read more and see photos...


New Lake Superior trails emphasize accessibility


The Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy is celebrating the formal opening of a 1,000 kilometer water trail between Gros Cap and Thunder Bay. Composting toilets, accessible docking features, and accessible pathways are a few features found at many of the 16 trailheads along Ontario lakefront. Read more and see photos...


TRAINING & RESOURCES

Best practices for backcountry sanitation


The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s Backcountry Sanitation Manual tackles an essential problem of living on the trail: “How does one achieve modern standards of sanitation and cleanliness without the alternatives provided by road access, septic systems, leaching fields, plumbing, and electricity?" Download the 329-page manual (pdf 11.6 mb)…


Salt Lake City updates bike/ped master plan


Salt Lake City Pedestrian & Bicycle Master Plan outlines goals and objectives, proposes a 20-year build-out of bicycle facilities, and recommends changes to City processes and programs. The Plan describes the goal of encouraging more participation in biking and walking. Download the 139-page guide (15.3 mb)…


Colorado studies biking and walking benefits


A new State-sponsored study looks at the economic and health benefits of bicycling and walking in Colorado. The bottom line is that the total economic and health benefits of walking calculated for the State is approximately $3.2 billion, and $1.6 billion for bicycling. Download the report (pdf 6.6 mb)...


Economic and livability value of multi-use trails


The Tammany Trace Rail Trail in Louisiana is the subject of Assessing the Economic and Livability Value of Multi-Use Trails by H. T. Hammons. The 2015 survey asked Trace users about their spending and quality of life perceptions of the trail. Download the 87-page study (pdf 6.8 mb)...



Late Summer 2017 trail training opportunities


Current training opportunities for trail skills across the country. See the Online Trails Training Calendar for details…


August 1, 2017 — Webinar: Outdoor Recreation: Partnering for Relevancy and Inclusion

August 3, 2017 — Webinar: Surface Roughness and Rollability Research for Pedestrians

August 4-11, 2017 — Appalachian Trail Conservancy Biennial Conference

August 5, 2017 — Trail Assessment Training

  • Palmer, AK
  • Info: Steve Cleary at 907-334-804

August 20-24, 2017 — Comprehensive Bikeway Design 1.0

August 22-27, 2017 — Annual NOHVCC/INOHVAA Joint Conference

August 25-27, 2017 — Trail Building Workshop with Michigan Mountain Biking Association

 

September 7, 2017 — Webinar: Questions and Answers on Accessibility Standards

September 13-15, 2017 — National Walking Summit

September 24-26, 2017 — Pennsylvania Greenways and Trails Summit

September 28-30, 2017 — Santa Fe Trail Association Symposium



Contact us with your scheduled training opportunities at nttp@americantrails.org.

JOIN THE AMERICAN TRAILS NETWORK

Working together - works! There is strength in numbers! 


For over 28 years, American Trails has been a collective voice for a diverse coalition of enthusiasts, professionals, advocates, builders, land managers, conservationists, and friends of the outdoors and livable cities.  


American Trails will continue to keep you informed on both trail know-how and issues critical to the future of trails. With your help, we can increase funding for trails, keep more trails open, and improve the health and well-being of Americans of all ages and abilities, including our children. 


American Trails is a tax-exempt, nonprofit charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible.


QUICK LINKS


Trail Tracks is our monthly e-Newsletter with links to  www.AmericanTrails.org one of the world's most comprehensive online resources for planning, designing, building, funding, managing, and enhancing trails, greenways, and blueways. We also bring you news from the halls of Congress, new studies and resources, interesting articles, events, training opportunities, and the latest in trail products and services. Check out the topics above for what's new in the trails world!