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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February 2018 "Trail Tracks" eNewsletter
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The 2017 National Recreation Trails photo contest winners have been announced!
American Trails had an amazing response to the latest photo contest for designated National Recreation Trails. American Trails sponsors this annual contest to showcase the great National Recreation Trails from across the country. Check out the winners and see if any of your favorite trails are featured in the winning photos!
Read more and see photos ...
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Nominate your favorite Recreational Trails Program (RTP) funded project for a nationally recognized award!
The
Coalition for Recreational Trails
seeks nominations for its Tom Petri Annual Achievement Awards. Winners are recognized in Washington, D.C. each June during Great Outdoors Month®. This awards program, now in its 20th year, recognizes outstanding use of Recreational Trails Program (RTP) funds, showcasing excellent projects made possible by RTP funding and enhancing awareness and appreciation of the program among Members of Congress and other key officials.
Read more and nominate your project ...
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February 22nd webinar: Trail Construction Cost Realities
American Trails will present this webinar on February 22, 2018 with Margie Tatro, founder/co-owner of Reineke Construction. This webinar
will deliver a simple, cost estimating tool and provide a list of the key factors associated with trail construction costs.
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March 8th webinar: Sustainable Trails For All
American Trails will present this webinar on March 8, 2018 with Janet Zeller and Peter Jensen. This webinar will discuss an overview of pedestrian sustainable trails for all, including understanding the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) Trail Accessibility Standards.
Read more and register here...
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Introduction to Trail Safe! Online trail safety training videos!
American Trails will present this webinar, in partnership with the Partnership for the National Trails System, on March 12, 2018. Presented by Dan Watson with the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, this webinar will introduce attendees to Trail Safe! -- a series of online safety training videos which provide all core learning objectives found in National Park Service (NPS) Operational Leadership.
Read more and register here...
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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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Hut-to-hut systems are growing: Let’s plan for them
San Demas of www.hut2hut.info writes about the expanding interest in backcountry trail accommodations. He hopes that we will "not simply copy European models, but invent our own 21st century approaches to hut systems based on local terrain, culture, and conditions."
Read more and see photos...
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Ozark Greenways dedicates the Trail of Honor
Ozark Greenways recently dedicated a very special section of trail along the James River Greenway in Springfield, Missouri. What makes this trail unique is its location in a cemetery. The Missouri Veterans Commission believes this is the first and only veteran’s cemetery in the country to accommodate a public trail.
Read more and see photos...
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Featured National Recreation Trail: Schuylkill River Trail, PA
The 128-mile Schuylkill River, stretching from rural Pennsylvania to Philadelphia, has become a favorite of paddlers and anglers. The corridor includes both the water trail and the popular hike/bike trail. The Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area wants to help propel the resurgence with more recreation opportunities.
Read more and see photos...
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The Recreational Trails Program responds to national trends
The flexibility of Recreational Trails Program (RTP) funding has enabled States to direct grants to projects that respond to changing public needs. Trails and greenways increasingly address issues of national significance affecting public health, public lands, and community improvement.
Read more and see photos...
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Featured Trail Industry Manufacturer: Fossil Graphics
Fossil Graphics manufactures “The World’s Most Durable Graphics” and has the warranty to back that claim. Their CHPL (Custom High Pressure Laminate) signs and graphics are “Graffiti Proof” and guaranteed for 10 years against fading and weather deterioration. Fossil is the #1 solution for many city, state, and national parks, bike paths, trails, and recreation facilities and can be found on every continent.
Learn more about Fossil Graphics in the American Trails Online Business Directory...
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Hatfield-McCoy system adding 100 miles of new trails in McDowell County
"Not only will the Hatfield-McCoy ATV Trail System see a record year for 2017, more growth is expected in 2018 as about 100 miles of new trails will be added," writes the
Bluefield Daily Telegraph.
The system runs through six counties in southern West Virginia on almost 700 miles of trails.
Read more and see photos...
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Massachusetts governor promotes expanding trail system
Governor Charlie Baker is featured in a video promoting his support for a statewide trails system. "The administration will continue to work with municipal and community partners to make the investments that will maintain and expand these vibrant assets for generations to come across the Commonwealth."
Read more and see video...
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Dunedin named first "trail town" in Florida
Dunedin Economic Development and Housing Director Bob Ironsmith said, “The Trail has been a major catalyst for the revitalization of Downtown Dunedin, bringing in a constant stream of people who shop eat and play in our quaint Main Street area. Embracing and enhancing the Trail has led the effort in making Downtown Dunedin a top destination to visit, and we are very proud of receiving the Trail Town designation.”
Read more...
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A hiking trail connecting NYC to Canada is in the works
During his State of the State address, Governor Andrew Cuomo laid out an
ambitious proposal
to develop 350 miles of new
biking paths
and
hiking trails
that will connect New York City to both Canada and Buffalo through Albany. Dubbed the Empire State Trail, the whole project will stretch 750 miles and include roughly 400 miles of existing trails.
Read more...
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Egypt's first ever long distance trail is now in use
The Sinai Trail is roughly 143 miles long, and stretches from the Gulf of Aqaba to Egypt's mountainous interior. Although the trail was established in 2015, the first official through hike was this past November, and has been written about by one of the 17 hikers on the undertaking, CNN's Jen Rose Smith.
Read more...
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New Zealand trail concerned with tackiness
In an article headlined, "Trail needs protection from tackiness" it's argued that the Central Otago Rail Trail needs protection from those erecting signs on their private land that surrounds the trail, lest these signs chase away trail users who aren't expecting them.
Read more...
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American Trails is starting a webinar series on accessibility
Accessible Trail Development is the theme for a series of four webinars hosted by American Trails. Trail planners and managers will want to expand their knowledge of this vital but often confusing topic.
On the schedule are:
- March 8: Sustainable Trails for All
- April 5: Outdoor Developed Areas Final Rule
- April 12: Creating Accessible Trails with Universally Designed Interpretation
- April 26: Getting the Word Out about Accessibility of Trails and Outdoor Recreation
American Trails members save 50% on webinars and only pay $19 (nonmembers $39). The registration fee includes learning credits via AICP CM, LA CES, and NRPA CEU equivalency petition.
Learn more and register for these webinars...
Arizona Trail Skills Institute provides full range of training
Working together, Arizona Trail Association and American Conservation Experience will teach valuable skills to volunteers, including those who have been involved in trail projects for many years. Drawing upon thousands of hours on the trail, these sessions include time-tested techniques and innovative principles.
Read more and see training schedule...
Trail users surveyed on New York pathways
Fifteen trails in New York State were selected for a study which used a variety of surveys and interviews with trail users. "An Analysis of the 2015 Trail User Survey & Count" provides an interesting comparison of different kinds of trails, each with their own use patterns and types of visitors.
Download 70-page study (pdf 2.9 mb)...
Best practices for snowmobile trails
The Vermont Association of Snow Travelers Inc. (VAST) has revised their "Best Practices for the Development of Snowmobile Trails" for 2017. The design guide is filled with diagrams and photos illustrating both good and bad design of trails, plus bridges, mapping, road and rail crossings, and structures.
Download design guide (pdf 9.5 mb)...
Learn to be a National Recreation Trails Ambassador
American Trails is seeking motivated volunteer Trail Ambassadors that are willing to visit as many of the National Recreation Trails in their region as possible over the next year, to gather data and identify issues on these great trails.
Learn more about the NRT Ambassador Program...
20
18 trail training opportunities across America
March 2018
March 5-7, 2018 — National Bike Summit
March 5-8, 2018 — Sustainable Trail Design and Layout, Construction, and Maintenance
March 8, 2018 — Webinar: Sustainable Trails for All
March 10, 2018 — Sustainable Trail Maintenance
March 12, 2018 — Webinar: Introduction to Trail Safe! Online Trail Safety Training Videos
March 23-30, 2018 — Sustainable Trails Conference
March 23-25, 2018 — Mountains-to-Sea Trail Gathering of Friends
March 23-25, 2018 — Southeast Biking Symposium
- Hilton Head Island, SC
- Info: https://www.hiltonheadchamber.org/chamber-events/southeast-bike-symposium/
March 24, 2018 — New Jersey Bike & Walk Summit
March 24, 2018 — Sustainable Trail Assessment
March 27-29, 2018 — California Trails & Greenways 2018
March 30 - April 1, 2018 — AHTS Annual Conference: Alabama Trail Systems
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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.
- Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest!
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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