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American Trails saves your trails, promotes trail access, and lets you know about trail opportunities. Get involved -- LEARN, CONNECT, ACT, ENJOY!
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October 2017 "Trail Tracks" eNewsletter
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Oct. 19 Webinar: Counting Bike and Pedestrian Trail Users
The American Trails Webinar Series continues October 19 with "Trail Users Count! Automated Bicyclist and Pedestrian Trail User Counting." The presenter, Chris Linn with Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, will explore how data, metrics, and advanced tools are being used to further the development of trail networks in the greater Philadelphia area.
Read more and register for the Webinar...
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National Recreation Trail nominations are due November 1
Is your trail a good candidate for National Recreation Trail (NRT) designation? NRTs receive national recognition and are included in the online database managed by American Trails. The NRT program showcases the diversity of trails across America, from cities and suburbs to deserts, waterways, and high mountains.
Learn about the requirements and how to nominate your trail...
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Enter the National Recreation Trails photo contest!
December 15 is the deadline to enter your photos in the annual contest for designated National Recreation Trails! American Trails sponsors a photo contest to make more Americans familiar with these great trails. We're looking for good photos of trail users on any designated NRT as well as special facilities, art on the trails, management issues, construction, volunteers, and scenic beauty.
Read more and enter your photos...
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INOHVAA presents national awards to recipients in Nevada and Maine
The International OHV Administrators Association (INOHVAA) is happy to recognize the Nevada Off-Highway Vehicle Commission with its 2017 Special Recognition Award, and is proud to present this year’s Hall of Fame Award to Brian Bronson, State of Maine, Division of Off-Highway Vehicles.
Learn more…
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Jim Schmid reviews
Appalachian Odyssey: A 28-year Hike On America’s Trail
Jeffrey H. Ryan tells the story of easing into hiking the iconic 2,181-mile Appalachian Trail and keeping at it for decades.
Appalachian Odyssey is based on his daily trail journal entries from each section hike. It is part memoir, part natural history and trail lore, and part practical hiking advice.
Read more...
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Featured Recreational Trails Program-funded project: Trail Restoration, Armand Bayou, Texas
Armand Bayou Nature Center (ABNC) near Pasadena, Texas is one of the nation's largest urban wilderness preserves. Trails damaged by hurricanes and flooding were improved with Recreational Trails funds as well as volunteer assistance and donations.
Read more and see photos...
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Featured National Recreation Trail: Black River Trail, Missouri
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the 3.25-mile gentle paved and gravel trail that winds through the bottomland hardwoods and pines along the Black River below Clearwater Dam near Piedmont, Missouri. Visitors enjoy the trail in all seasons for its wildlife and diversity of scenery.
Read more and see photos...
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Lack of land doesn't stop new connection along Chicago River
Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Oct. 4 that a new trail, the 312 RiverRun, will connect three parks along two miles of the Chicago River, from Belmont to Montrose. Construction of the Riverview Bridge, which will be the longest pedestrian river bridge in the city, demonstrates that it's possible to overcome gaps along the waterway where there's a lack of available land.
Read more and see photos...
U.S. DOT envisions trails as part of core transportation networks
If a bike trail has traditionally been considered a recreational amenity, the new thinking considers it part of transportation – and even deconstructs the difference between recreation and transportation. “Transportation and recreation are not either/or,” said Christopher Douwes of the FHWA, “It can be both/and.”
Read more and see photos...
Life in the bike lane in New York City
According to Matthew J. Roe of the National Association of City Transportation Officials, "New York is part of a booming bike movement across the country, as cities recognize the importance of biking to their transportation systems, invest in bike infrastructure, and improve the safety of bike routes."
Read more and see photos...
FEMA grant helps Corvallis rebuild boardwalk to withstand floods
A new boardwalk opened in Corvallis, OR five years after floodwaters from the nearby Marys River wiped out the previous boardwalk. The Federal Emergency Management Agency kicked in more than $200,000 for a more resilient structure anchored to 158 helical piers sunk 10 feet into the ground.
Read more and see photos…
How do you install 130-foot-long trail bridge?
A 53,000-pound bridge was installed on the new Cato Springs Trail in south Fayetteville, AR. Crews brought in the bridge on a huge truck and used an even bigger crane to lift it into place onto concrete supports on each side of the stream.
Read more and see photos of the bridge installation...
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Northern Ireland greenway plans gather momentum
The BBC reports on the vision of a 620-mile network of greenways extending through all six counties in Northern Ireland, reviving the disused railway network and potentially transforming local transport infrastructure. According to Jonathan Hobbs, who runs the NI Greenways website, councils have taken over from government in pushing greenways forward.
Read more and see photos...
A U.S. and Mexican city want to build cross-border trail
Curbed.com reports that "Matamoros, Mexico, and Brownsville, Texas are working on a two-state trail that would create an economic and arts district straddling the border." Recently, Brownsville opened an eight-mile bike trail on an abandoned rail line, and planners on both sides of the border have discussed connecting that pathway to a potential trail in Matamoros.
Read more and see photos...
Prince Edward Island boardwalk leads to beaches and wetlands
The Greenwich Dunes boardwalk is part of the pathway system in P.E.I. National Park in eastern Canada. It crosses an extensive and fragile coastal dune system and wetlands, and at the end of the trail is another spectacular beach.
Read more and see photos...
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Fall 2017
American Trails Magazine
available online
The Fall issue of the
American Trails Magazine is hot off the press! You can view it now online on the American Trails website. Great articles will take you around the world of trails from Pennsylvania to Tasmania. We've also included ideas, reviews, photos, award-winning projects, and new resources.
View the 40-page magazine online...
American Trails Webinar for November: Electric Bicycles on Trails
American Trails will present "Electric Bicycles: A Primer on the Technology & Land Manager Tools" on November 9, 2017. Presenters Morgan Lommele with PeopleForBikes and Chris Bernhardt with Sentieros Consulting will explore e-bikes' transportation and recreation options on public lands.
Read more and register for the Webinar...
Build a Sustainable Trail that Lasts 100 Years
American Trails will present this Webinar on December 7, 2017 with Michael Osborne with Five Rivers MetroParks. This webinar will explore the critical components and processes necessary for truly sustainable trail design and construction.
Read more and register for the Webinar…
Manual on Pedestrian and Bicycle Connections to Transit
The Federal Transit Administration recently published a "Manual on Pedestrian and Bicycle Connections to Transit." It provides best practices for evaluating, planning for, and implementing improvements to pedestrian and bicycle access to transit.
Download 171-page manual (pdf 13 mb)...
Winter 2017 trail training opportunities
November 2017
November 1-3, 2017 — AORE Annual Conference
November 2, 2017 — Trail Crossings in Wetlands: Bog Bridge
November 2, 2017 — Constructing accessible trails with stabilized stone dust
November 2-4, 2017 — Chainsaw Safety Training for Trail Volunteers
November 2, 2017 — Washington State Trails Coalition Caucus Meeting
November 3-4, 2017 — Massachusetts Trails Conference
November 3-4, 2017 — 6th Annual NC Bike/Walk Summit
November 9, 2017 — Webinar: Electric Bicycles: A Primer on the Technology & Land Manager Tools
November 10, 2017 — Game of Logging Level 3 — Storm Damage Removal
November 15, 2018 — Webinar: Electric Mountain Bikes-- Who's Riding, Current Policies, and Resources
November 18, 2017 — Sustainable Trail Assessment
November 22-23, 2017 — Trailhead Canada 2017
December 2017
December 4-7, 2017 — Sustainable Trail Design and Layout, Construction, and Maintenance
December 6, 2017 — People for Bikes Webinar: Electric Mountain Bike Land Manager Handbook
December 7, 2017 — Advancing Trails Webinar: Build a Sustainable Trail that Lasts 100 Years
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JOIN THE AMERICAN TRAILS NETWORK
Working together - works! There is strength in numbers!
For over 29 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
- American Trails - maintains the world's most comprehensive online go-to sources for planning, designing, building, funding, managing, enhancing, and supporting trails, greenways, and blueways at www.AmericanTrails.org.
- SAVE THE DATE: 2019 International Trails Symposium in Syracuse, NY – April 28 to May 1, 2019
- Visit American Trails "Supporting Trails" web page for alerts and legislation.
- Read about great Recreational Trails Program funded projects by visiting the Federal Highway Administration’s RTP Database website.
- Find products and services for trails in our Online Business Directory.
- Visit our Blog.
- Join us on Facebook and Twitter!
- Learn about and find National Recreation Trails (NRT) near you today!
- The Online Trails Training Calendar connects you with courses, conferences, and trail-related training.
- Purchase books, maps, memberships, and webinars through the American Trails Online Store.
- Need Trails Training? Visit www.TrailsTraining.net.
- Cool Trail Solutions: view galleries of trail projects, enhancements, and facilities to give you ideas and see how others solved typical trails and greenways problems.
- If you appreciate the myriad of resources we provide on our website to help you do your work better, please help support American Trails ~ by joining the American Trails Network today.
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!
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