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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April 2018 "Trail Tracks" eNewsletter
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Exhibitor opportunities at the 2019 International Trails Symposium
Join our many sponsors and exhibitors in networking with the international trails community and maximize your visibility and message at the 2019 International Trails Symposium and Training Institute (April 28 to May 1, 2019 in Syracuse, New York
).
A 25% discount is offered until May 1.
Read more and see Exhibitor Contract...
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Call for presentations for American Trails' 2019 International Trails Symposium
American Trails is calling for presentation proposals for our 2019 International Trails Symposium (ITS)! The ITS is the premier opportunity for greenways and trails advocates, managers, planners, builders, and users, as well as environmental, tourism, development, and business interests, to come together to strengthen America’s remarkable network of trails! What topics do you believe the trails world needs to hear more about?
Submit your proposals today!
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Can you complete the 30 Miles for 30 Years Challenge?
2018 is not only the 50th anniversary of the Trails Act, it also marks the 30th year American Trails has been a force for action in the trails world! To celebrate we are challenging you to explore 30 miles of our nations
trails. Accept this challenge and create your own supporter page to share with your family and friends. You can use your page to raise money, track your journey, and post updates on social media by linking your supporter page to your Facebook or Twitter account!
Read more and sign up ...
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April 26 American Trails Webinar continues Accessible Trails series
The April 26 American Trails Webinar is "Getting the Word Out about Accessibility of Trails and Outdoor Recreation." The topic is how Universal Access Information can provide people with better information on accessibility of outdoor environments as they pursue an achievable challenge.
Read more and register for the Webinar...
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Are you looking for a trail job?
There are jobs available for a variety of trail-related work. See the American Trails Employment postings for professional as well as entry-level jobs. American Trails posts opportunities for trails and greenways employment, seasonal work for conservation corps, bicycle pedestrian advocacy, trail organizations, state parks, and federal agencies.
See current jobs...
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Slow down, walk, and listen
Jim Schmid reviews
Walking to Listen: 4,000 Miles Across America, One Story At A Time. Andrew Forsthoefel set out on a walk across America with a backpack, an audio recorder, and a sign on his back that said, “Walking to Listen.” His goals were to learn more about himself while hearing about the lives and beliefs of the people he met along the way.
Read more...
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Featured Recreational Trails Program project: 4 Peaks Wilderness Trail Work, Arizona
American Conservation Experience, a volunteer conservation corps, worked with Tonto National Forest and the Arizona Trail Association on an extensive maintenance project in the Four Peaks Wilderness. The project involved eight miles of tread re-establishment, repair, and building new retaining walls in places.
Download report and photos (pdf 21.4 mb)...
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Featured National Recreation Trail: Leon Creek Greenway, San Antonio, Texas
The City of San Antonio’s efforts to keep citizens and visitors active and healthy while also connecting them with nature are on a roll, thanks in part to the Linear Creekways Development Program. Leon Creek Greenway offers 17 miles of paved, multi-use trails plus natural surface paths and connections to city parks.
Read more and see photos...
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The National Park Service (NPS) is accepting applications for their Challenge Cost Share Program until May 25, 2018
The NPS Challenge Cost Share Program is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the National Trails and Wild & Scenic Rivers systems. Challenge Cost Share ("CCS") projects are intended to build collaboration between the National Park Service and project partners. For 2018, the program will provide $386,000, to be matched 1-to-1 by non-federal funds and in-kind support. They anticipate supporting approximately 20 projects.
Read more...
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Featured Trail Industry Manufacturer: Terrabilt, Inc.
Terrabilt creates and builds high-quality, long-lasting outdoor signs, kiosks, and exhibits for parks, trails, rail-trails, and preserves. They create and build high-quality, long-lasting outdoor signs, kiosks, and exhibits for parks, trails, rail-trails, and preserves.
Learn more about Terrabilt, Inc. in the American Trails Online Business Directory...
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Nation's only state trails caucus prompts Ohio trails website
"
Officials say Ohio has more than 5,000 miles of trails wending past caves, cliffs, waterfalls, meadows, marshes, lakes and other natural attractions. Ohio also has the nation's only legislative caucus dedicated to trails." This has led to a comprehensive new Ohio's trail website.
Read more and see photos...
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Oregon Parks and Recreation Department now accepting applications for Recreational Trail Program grants
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Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) has opened the grant cycle for the 2018 Recreational Trails Program (RTP). More than $2.6 million in federally-funded grants is available to construct, expand and improve public trails for motorized and non-motorized use."
Read more...
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Light seen at end of canal trail tunnel
In the 1990s, a civic association formed to advocate converting the entire 84-mile canal, from New Haven to Northampton, Mass., into a paved trail for hikers and cyclists. So far about half of the trail has come to fruition, with drawings now showing the next phase of problem solving.
Read more and see photos...
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Frogtown: A wonderfully weird creative hub blossoms along the L.A. River
Friends of the Los Angeles River have worked for decades to tackle one of the most unlikely missions in the country: turning a vast concrete ditch into an "ecologically sound recreational space." Frogtown is becoming a hub of vitality along the L.A. River Greenway Trail, which will extend to San Pedro by 2023.
Read more and see photos...
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Transcaucasian Trail: Mapping Eurasia's forgotten hiking routes
CNN Travel
looks at an ambitious, 3,000-kilometer hiking route that will crisscross Armenia and Georgia all the way from the Iran to the Georgian-Turkish frontier, and will make odysseys on foot through these rugged and hardly accessible mountains possible.
Read more and see photos...
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Scenic and family-friendly cycling trails in the UK
Readers of
The Guardian
contributed tips on their favorite walks and bike rides in some of the most scenic parts of the United Kingdom. Beautiful pictures showcase the rail trails and canal towpaths make up the majority of these low-gradient, historic routes.
Read more and see photos...
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American Trails is starting a webinar series on accessibility
May 24 webinar discusses the International Trails Movement
American Trails is hosting a webinar on May 24 on " A World of Trails: The International Trails Movement." Presented by a panel of internationally based trails experts from five continents, this webinar will discuss how other countries are using trails for environmental, landscape, and cultural preservation; economic development and tourism; and health and fitness ben
efits.
Read more and register for the Webinar...
Economic and Health Benefits of Bicycling in Northwest Arkansas
The Walton Family Foundation, in collaboration with PeopleForBikes, studied the economic, health, social, and business benefits associated with bicycling. The study finds that bike tourism, including mountain bike trails, is a significant economic driver with tourists spending $27 million at local businesses each year.
Download the 33-page study (pdf 1.6 mb)...
Economic benefits of river-based recreation
The Economic Impact of the Huron River looks at how the Huron River National Water Trail and its Trail Towns are "the backbone of a river corridor revitalization that is making the Huron River valley a destination in Michigan and the Great Lakes.”
Download the 79-page study (pdf 4.9 mb)...
The best "Complete Streets" initiatives of 2017
A new publication details how 12 cities across the U.S. are creating more mixed-use, accessible, and walkable communities by focusing on " Complete Streets"— changing the way most roads are planned, designed, and constructed. Initiatives, projects, and champions around the country are highlighted.
Download the 78-page study (pdf 10.2 mb)...
Summer 201
8 trail training opportunities
May 2018
May 3, 2018 — Webinar: Recreation Facilities – A Refresher
- Online webinar: 2:30 – 4:00 (ET)
- The U.S. Access Board's free monthly webinar will provide a refresher on requirements in the ADA and ABA Standards for recreation facilities. The session will cover access in new construction and alterations to play areas, swimming pools, sports facilities, fishing piers, boating facilities, golf courses, and amusement rides. Questions can be submitted in advance of the session or can be posed during the webinar.
- Info: https://www.accessibilityonline.org/ao/
May 4-6, 2018 — Pikes Peak Regional Crew Leader Training
- Colorado Springs, CO
- The Pikes Peak Regional Crew Leader Training is an intensive weekend-long training for volunteers who are interested in becoming certified and active Volunteer Crew Leaders. While in the training, participants will learn how to lead safe, successful trail projects and develop basic trail construction and restoration skills. The training is hosted in partnership by Rocky Mountain Field Institute (RMFI), Trails and Open Space Coalition, Friends of the Peak, and the City of Colorado Springs. RMFI hosts hundreds of volunteer trail and restoration workdays each year in the Southern Colorado region.
- Info: https://www.rmfi.org/programs/pikes-peak-regional-crew-leader-training
May 7-10, 2018 — Mid American Trails & Greenways Conference
- Columbus, OH
- The bi-annual conference is sponsored by the nine states that make up Mid America: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin. Join us and learn from other trail experts and enthusiasts from across the region. You’ll hear the latest trends and techniques in trail development, maintenance, and promotion as well as experience great field trips to explore and learn how to use your trail as a tool for economic development and active living.
- Info: http://www.matag.org/
May 8-10, 2018 — Great Trails Workshop in Idaho
- Coeur d’Alene, ID
- The workshops focus on the design, layout, construction, maintenance and management of sustainable Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) trails. Hands-on field training is emphasized. The classroom portion of the workshop will be held at the Workforce Training Center in Post Falls, ID. The field portion of the workshop will be held on the Canfield Mountain Trail System on the Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District. The workshop series was created as a hands-on companion to “Great Trails: Providing Quality OHV Trails and Experiences,” which was published by NOHVCC in 2015. Contact - trailhead@nohvcc.org
May 11-12, 2018 — Intermediate Trail Assessment (prerequisite required)
- Wentworth, NC
- Participants will build on skills and knowledge they gained in the sustainable trail assessment class. Students will focus on critical assessment of a trail system in the area. The session will cover creating a trail assessment document to present findings and proposed recommendations.Students will gather the necessary information through field work to write a trail assessment document. **Interested participants should have a thorough understanding of sustainable trails and trail assessment experience before taking this class - prerequisite required.
- Info: johnsont1587@rockinghamcc.edu or http://www.rockinghamcc.edu/publications/trails-info
May 15-16, 2018 — Universal Trail Assessment Process (UTAP) Training
- Minden, NV
- A two- to three-day Universal Trail Assessment Process (UTAP), High Efficiency Trail Assessment Process (HETAP), and Public Rights of Way Assessment Process (PROWAP) workshop is scheduled at Beneficial Designs, Inc. Hours are 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. with a possible additional in-depth training Thursday May 17, 2018. Instructor: Todd Ackerman, Assessment Coordinator, Beneficial Designs, Inc. Cost: $295
- Info: Information and registration, please email: trails@beneficialdesigns.com
- Visit: www.beneficialdesigns.com/products/trail-and-sidewalk-assessment-equipment-software
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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 one of 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: 24th International Trails Symposium in Syracuse, New York April 28 – May 1, 2019
- Visit American Trails "Supporting Trails" webpage 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
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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