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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 below for what's new in the trails world!
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 WHAT'S HOT
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June 26 Webinar on Mountain Trail Sustainability
American Trails presents the first of a series of three Webinars on Sustainable Mountain Trails. Each webinar in this series is independent of each other and can be attended individually. You'll learn to apply these principles to a trail network "One Trail at a Time, One Mile at a Time." The course includes Tools and Techniques, Examples, and Case Studies of mountain trail sustainability. The presenter is Hugh Duffy, Landscape Architect and Project Manager with the National Park Service. Hugh is also the author of the hallmark document "Guide to Sustainable Mountain Trails - Trail Assessment, Planning, & Design Sketchbook." Read more and register for this webinar...
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Sponsor this webinar for only $250!
For only $250*, become a sponsor of this webinar (and any of our webinars in the Advancing Trails Webinar Series) and receive the following benefits:
- Logo recognition at the beginning and end of the webinar on our "thanks to our sponsors" slide
- Verbal recognition of our sponsors during the webinar
- Logo link recognition on webinar webpage
- The webinar will be recorded and all the attendees will receive a link to the recording which will include a pdf showcasing the sponsors' logos with clickable links to their websites
- In the promotional emails we send out for the webinar (20,000+ contacts), all sponsors will be listed with a name link (pending when they come in):
- Promotional emails sent in advance of webinar
- Monthly e-Newsletters
*Please note that this is not an exclusive sponsorship.
If you are interested in sponsoring any of our webinars or have any questions, contact Candace Mitchell, Communications Specialist, at candace@americantrails.org.
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Learn more in 2014 with American Trails Webinars
American Trails continues the dynamic online Advancing Trails Webinar Series to help trail planners, supporters, and managers learn about focused topics of special interest. Our webinars are now eligible for CEUs through the Texas Recreation and Park Society (TRAPS), an authorized independent CEU provider through IACET (International Association for Continuing Education and Training). Our 75 minute webinars are worth 0.10 CEUs and are available for an additional $20 fee.
Check out upcoming American Trails webinars for 2014 (details for all, including how to register, coming soon):
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- AUGUST 28, 2014: Fundamentals of Mountain Trail Sustainability ~ Part 2 of 3 (presented by Hugh Duffy, National Park Service)
- SEPTEMBER 11, 2014: How to Build Top Notch Equestrian Facilities (presented by Jan Hancock, Hancock Resources, LLC)
Read more and see current Webinar schedule...
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Senators support continuation of the Recreational Trails Program The Coalition for Recreational Trails member organizations have been working with staff of the United States Senate to boost awareness of and support for the Recreational Trails Program. The very successful result is a letter signed by 24 Senators (18 Democrats and 6 Republicans) in support of continued RTP funding. The letter was sent to leadership of the Senate Committee which oversees federal Transportation funding. Download the Senators' letter supporting Recreational Trails (pdf 1.4 mb)... |
Administration sends 2014 transportation funding proposal to Congress The Obama administration unveiled a new plan for Federal transportation programs. Trail advocates are closely watching to ensure that funding for bike/ped and trail programs continues. This bill, however, does not include ways to increase income to address the funding crisis with the Highway Trust Fund. Several provisions would ensure that bicycling and pedestrian programs would maintain eligibility. Read more... |
Funding bill would strip trails eligibility from TIGER grants A big change to funding eligibility was included in the House Committee on Appropriations proposed budget for transportation and housing for FY 2015. That means no TIGER grants for bike/ped facilities, though they have been an important source of funds for many trail systems. In addition the bill would provide just $100 million for TIGER grants, down from the $600 million the program got this year. Read more and learn how to take action... |
Share your Recreational Trails Program story Help us share great examples of the many benefits of the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) across the country! American Trails is currently gathering photos, success stories, and quotes for consideration to run in the Federal Highway Administration's 2014 Recreational Trails Program Annual Report. Please send your information to trailhead@americantrails.org. See examples in the 2013 Report and check the database to see if your trail received RTP funding... |
It's time to enter the 2014 National Recreation Trails Photo Contest American Trails sponsors an annual contest for photographs of National Recreation Trails (NRT) across the country. It's easy to enter, so take your camera when you're out on the trail this summer! We'll be giving awards in several categories to highlight the diversity of the NRTs and to make more Americans familiar with these great trails. Deadline for entries is December 15, 2014. See details on the 2014 NRT Photo Contest... |
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NEWS
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June 7, 2014 is National Trails DayŽ American Hiking Society's National Trails DayŽ is the country's largest celebration of trails. National Trails Day events include hikes, biking and horseback rides, paddling trips, birdwatching, geocaching, gear demonstrations, stewardship projects, and more. Occurring annually on the first Saturday in June. NTD features a series of outdoor activities, designed to promote and celebrate the importance of trails in the United States. Read more and find events... |
Play a role in Great Outdoors Month 2014 June is proclaimed Great Outdoors Month by the President and by each governor annually, and includes a large number of events designed to connect Americans with our parks, trails, and public lands. Great Outdoors Month Co-Chairs are Gregory Miller of the American Hiking Society, Kevin Coyle of the National Wildlife Federation, and Derrick Crandall of the American Recreation Coalition. Read more and learn about events... |
May is National Bike Month Sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists and celebrated in communities from coast to coast, National Bike Month is a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling -- and encourage more folks to give biking a try. Events help people to bike to work or school; save gas money; get more exercise; or simply to explore their communities. National Bike Month is an opportunity to celebrate the unique power of the bicycle and the many reasons we ride. Read more and see resources... |
Court rules that concessionaires can charge access fees on Federal land The Denver Post reports that "a Washington, DC court ruling quashed a grassroots lawsuit that protested day-use fees collected by private contractors managing public recreation areas." This means concessionaires can charge for such things as parking at a campground or a trailhead used by hikers. The Forest Service has enlisted private management for about half of its U.S. campgrounds, including 82 percent of its highly developed, reservable campsites. Read more... |
Bigger tourists mean bigger horses on Western trails The Pueblo Chieftain reports that outfitters who offer horseback trail riding have been moving to draft horses, including Belgians and Percherons in recent years. "Ranch operators say they began adding the bigger horses in the 1990s, but the pace has picked up in recent years. Over the last 20 years, obesity has increased to more than a third of adults and about 17 percent of children age 2 to 19, according to federal statistics." Read more and see photos... |
FEATURES
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James L. Oberstar: Congressman and advocate for trails and bicycling Trails and biking activists mourn the loss of Rep. Jim Oberstar. He was a key figure in Federal transportation funding for many years, and he was much loved by supporters of trails and bicycle-pedestrian programs. "Every American who bikes the Minnesota bike trails, hikes the Lake Superior trail, and drives our national highways and bridges should remember Jim today," said Senator Amy Klobuchar. Read more and see photos... |
Featured National Wildlife Refuge Trail: Quinebaug River Water Trail The Quinebaug River Water Trail offers 45 miles of paddling through south-central Massachusetts and eastern Connecticut. Many of the segments provide an opportunity for family-friendly, close-to-home outdoor adventures with a surprisingly remote feel. Wildlife is abundant and the only traces of civilization are the remnants of old mills. This region is known as The Last Green Valley because it is a relatively undeveloped rural enclave in the midst of the most urbanized region in the nation. Read more and see photos... |
Best Practices: Roads crossing trails - signs for motorists The American Trails Cool Trail Solutions latest gallery of photos shows signs that alert drivers when trails cross streets and roads. Motorists generally do not expect to encounter bikes, horses, and pedestrians crossing the road except at intersections. Many trails and greenways do intersect streets mid-block and cross highways in rural areas. Signs, delineators, pavement markings, and raised bumps are all used to warn drivers of possible trail users ahead. See commentary and gallery of photos... |
Redding Shines: Better Bikeways, Walkable Cities, and a Ciclovia in Far Northern California! Last month Shasta Living Streets was very busy with a number of programs bringing people together to promote Better Bikeways and Walkable Cities in Far Northern California. Learn more and see photos of the cutting-edge Better Bikeways campaign here. Redding's Ciclovia, Family Bicycling Day, is in its fourth year and celebrated recently completed bicycle lanes and pedestrian crossing improvements. Thousands of people came out to enjoy a trail through the city and learn more about city resources and history in this area that is part of Redding's downtown core. 
Shasta Living Streets members have big hopes for this region. Executive Director Anne Thomas states, "Our vision for Shasta County recognizes that one of our greatest public assets is the interconnected network of streets and public places that binds our homes, schools, businesses, and parks. When we couple superior facilities for active transportation and public space with our existing world-class recreational attractions - we will ensure our region excels as a place for families and businesses to thrive and as a destination for tourists. With a recent bridge-grant contribution by Clif Bar Foundation, we will now be able to devote ourselves to creating a sustainable organization to build excellence in livable communities and active transportation in Shasta County and in making bicycling and walking convenient, reliable, and fun." Learn more about the success of this fast-growing organization... P.S. Now can you see another big reason why American Trails is so proud that the City of Redding is the home of our national office! |
American Trails Business Directory IN THE SPOTLIGHT: BioSpan Technologies, Inc. BioSpan Technologies, Inc., green technology company, is committed to providing cost effective and environmentally friendly solutions in the fields of paving, including their state-of-the-art asphalt sealer, RePLAY™, the #1 product in use. RePLAY™ Agricultural Oil Seal and Preservation Agent is a patented solution that extends the life of paved asphalt surfaces when applied every 3-5 years. Learn more about BioSpan Technologies and their REPLAY™ product... |
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INTERNATIONAL TRAILS SYMPOSIUM
May 17-20, 2015 ~ Portland, Oregon
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More news on the American Trails International Trails Symposium Plan to join us May 17-20, 2015 at American Trails' biennial International Trails Symposium! It's the premier opportunity for trail advocates, managers, builders, planners, and supporters- as well as tourism and business interests -- to come together for an inspirational and educational conference. The Symposium includes educational sessions on the broad range of trail issues, speakers from around the world, a state-of-the-art exhibit hall, informative and interactive mobile workshops, and much more. Watch for news and links to all the details on the Symposium index page... |
Exhibit and sponsorship opportunities The Exhibitor Contract is now available! Exhibitors get to choose their booth location in the order they send in their contract and payment (some exceptions apply). The Sponsor Packet will be finalized shortly if you are interested in receiving more recognition and benefits at our Symposium. You can still pay for an exhibit booth now (to take advantage of the discount), and we can apply those funds to a larger sponsorship when those opportunities become available. Thank you to our current sponsors and exhibitors: Learn more about the upcoming and past Symposiums... Contact Candace Mitchell, Exhibitor Coordinator, if you have any questions at candace@americantrails.org. |
National and International Trails Award nomination forms available American Trails presents the National and International Trails Awards Program to recognize organizations, agencies, businesses, and individual leaders who are working to create trails around the world. Nominations for the various categories of awards are now available, with the winners to be announced at the 22nd American Trails International Trails Symposium in Portland, Oregon in 2015. Three new awards for international trails will be featured. The deadline for submitting nominations is September 15, 2014. Read more and download the 2015 award nomination forms... |
Portland, Oregon is a showcase for trails and urban design Our host city is Portland, Oregon, and it has a lot to offer everyone attending the Symposium. The Willamette River Greenway is one of America's great urban river corridors with trails and pedestrian-friendly bridges through downtown. Public transit is outstanding and the city is full of examples of creative community development. Add parks, bikeways, and in-town hiking opportunities, plus water trails, wildlife refuges, and nearby national forests for every kind of trail activity. Visit Travel Portland to learn more... |
Metro (co-host of 2015 International Trails Symposium) is a proud sponsor of their local Sunday Parkways Portland Sunday Parkways announces their 2014 schedule, starting in mid-May through the end of September. Sunday Parkways is a series of free community events opening Portland's largest public space - its streets - for people to walk, bike, roll, and discover active transportation. Metro is one of many sponsors and the estimates put total attendance at the events at more than 100,000 annually. Residents and visitors say they come to enjoy the traffic-free streets connecting parks and schools filled with activities, music and vendors. It's safe, family-friendly, and a chance to meet neighbors. Read more... |
| INTERNATIONAL NEWS |
International Trails page links you to trails around the globe We've updated our webpage for trails in countries around the world. Greenways and trail systems are a growing interest in many countries: from mountain bike systems to urban river corridors to long-distance pathways. As America learned from the European tradition of footpaths and dedicated bikeways, other countries are learning from our explosion of community trails and rail-trails. Asian countries are also finding that trails benefit both tourism and transportation. We also welcome your suggestions to add to this page. Visit the new International Trails index page... |
A vision of global trails cooperation from American Trails Pam Gluck, Executive Director of American Trails, writes about the inspiration she felt while attending the World Trails Conference and walking the Jeju Olle Trail around Jeju Island in South Korea. "What a wonderful thing -- that a trail can bring together people and support communities, all the while providing its users with health, beauty, and memories." That vision of worldwide cooperation and sharing information across borders will also be an important theme of the 2015 American Trails International Trails Symposium in Portland, Oregon. Read more and see photos... |
Australian state plans to develop and market more trails The great walks in New South Wales will be built over a five-year period in order to add a product experience to New South Wales that will compete with New Zealand and other Australian states such as Tasmania and Victoria. New Zealand's successful marketing of such walking trails as the Milford Sound Track attracts an estimated 10,000 international visitors per year. Read more and see photos... |
| TRAINING & RESOURCES |
July 17 Webinar: Urban Trails in Difficult Places Registration available soon! American Trails presents this webinar on solving problems in the most challenging urban trail situations. How do you design and build urban greenways through narrow corridors threaded with utilities, flowing streams, drainage structures, and bridges. You'll learn from a variety of completed projects involving creative partnerships, as well as engineering solutions including walls, cantilevers, floodways, and other structures. Presenters are Bob Searns, The Greenway Team; Chuck Flink, FASLA, Greenways, Inc.; and Bill Nuemann, DHM Design. Read more about this and other American Trails webinars... |
Funding assistance for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore trails The Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks Technical Assistance Center is helping to fund the 27-mile Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail. This will be a hard-surfaced, non-motorized transportation alternative that parallels principal roadways along Lake Michigan. It creates trail connections to the Lakeshore's main visitor destinations, and provides walkers, cyclists, wheelchair users, and others with a safe way to explore the region. Currently, the Lakeshore has more than 100 miles of soft-surfaced trails, but less than one mile of universally accessible trail and zero miles of trail suitable for non-motorized wheeled recreation such as bicycles and strollers. Read more and see photos... |
Making Trails Count: Illinois Prairie Path economic survey The recent study suggests that the Illinois Prairie Path is playing a significant role in the economy, as well as in the healthy and sustainable lifestyles of the counties just west of Chicago. 51% of the trail users surveyed reported household incomes above $100,000. 35% of trail users reported spending money during their visit to the trail, most frequently at restaurants, bars, and grocery stores. Read more and download study... |
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AASHTO Bike Guide presentations available online
The American Association of State Highway Transportation Official's "Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities" is a key resource for designing and managing bicycle facilities in the U.S. An archived seven-part webinar series on the updated AASHTO Bike Guide is available for free download or to watch online. Topics include both on-road and off-road bicycle facility planning, design standards, signs, pavement markings, intersections, and maintenance. Access the archived webinars...
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Calendar of trails training and educational opportunities in 2014 Here are some of the trail-related training opportunities coming up this summer. See the Online Trails Training Calendar for details... June 7 - On trails across America! * American Hiking Society's National Trails DayŽ June 8-9 - National Parks across America * African American National Parks Event June 12 - Carrboro, NC * Navigating MAP-21 Workshop June 13 - Cedar Falls, IA * Fifth Annual Iowa Trails Summit June 17 - Online Webinar hosted by Advocacy Advance * Webinar: Funding Innovative Facilities June 19 - Online Webinar hosted by Institute of Traffic Engineers * Separated Bikeways: The New Norm in Bicycle Facilities June 25-26 - Greenfield, NH * Sustainable Trails for All Conference June 26 - Online Webinar hosted by American Trails * Webinar: Applying Foundations of Mountain Trail Sustainability June 27-28 - Greenfield, NH * Trail Construction for Universal Access Workshop July 9-13 - Merrill, WI * Ice Age Trail University July 17 - Online Webinar hosted by American Trails * Webinar: Urban Trails in Difficult Places July 19-20 - Aspen, CO * Crew Leader Training hosted by Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers Contact us with your scheduled training opportunities at nttp@americantrails.org. |
| JOIN THE AMERICAN TRAILS NETWORK |
Join American Trails and receive a gift of an 18-ounce Klean Kanteen water bottle!
American Trails is excited to announce a new co-brand partnership with Klean Kanteen! Members who join at the Trail Professional level or higher will receive a gift of an 18-ounce stainless steel Klean Kanteen commemorative water bottle celebrating American Trails 25 year anniversary!
Water bottles are also available for purchase in our Online Store.
Klean Kanteen introduced the first hydration bottle made from stainless steel to give people a safe and healthy alternative to plastic. Their mission, like American Trails, promotes sustainability and healthy lifestyles for everyone. You can learn more about them at www.kleankanteen.org.
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Working together - works! There is strength in numbers!
For over 25 years, American Trails has been a collective voice for a diverse coalition of enthusiasts, professionals, advocates, land managers, conservationists, and friends of the outdoors and livable cities. American Trails strives to enrich the quality of life for all people and the sustainable development of communities by advancing and promoting the development, preservation, and enjoyment of diverse, high quality trails and greenways. We envision a network of trails within 15 minutes of every home, school, and workplace.
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 501(c)(3) organization and all donations are tax-deductible.
 
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QUICK LINKS
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- Find products and services for trails in our Online Business Directory.
- Visit our Blog.
- Join us on Facebook and Twitter!
- Learn more about the International Trails Symposium ~ May 17-20, 2015 in Portland, Oregon
- Learn about and find National Recreation Trails (NRT) near you today!
- I'm a Pathways for Play advocate. Ask me why.
- 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 making a tax-deductible donation today.
- 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.
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Send news and calendar items to trailhead@americantrails.org.
Advertising Opportunities:
Learn about cost-effective advertising opportunities in our Trail Tracks e-Newsletter! Find out more here.
American Trails is a tax-exempt, nonprofit charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible.
 
Header photo: Trail along the pink granite of Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, Texas; photo by Stuart Macdonald
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