WHAT'S HOT 

July 17 Webinar on Building Urban Trails in Difficult Places

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, 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. Three greenway experts will guide you through examples and technologies: Bob Searns with The Greenway Team, Chuck Flink with Greenways Incorporated, and Bill Neumann with DHM Design. Read more about the webinar and the presenters and how to register...

Thank you to the sponsors of this webinar:

• Envirosigns, Ltd 
• Zeager Bros, Inc 
• Composite Advantage 

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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: 

New National Recreation Trails designated for 2014

Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Director of the National Park Service Jonathan B. Jarvis designated 19 hiking and biking trails and two water trails as National Recreation Trails, adding 452 miles in 11 states to the National Trails System. The new trails were announced in celebration of National Trails Day on June 7. Read more...

On June 19, Rep. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Rep. Tim Walz (D-MN) introduced the National Forest Service Trail Stewardship Act of 2014 (H.R. 4886). The bill would direct the U.S. Forest Service to develop strategies "to significantly increase the role of volunteers and partners in trail maintenance." The purpose of the legislation is to address the endless lack of maintenance on federal public lands. The bill states that the 158,000-mile National Forest trail system has a maintenance backlog of $314,000,000. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), "the Forest Service is only able to maintain about one-quarter of National Forest System trails to the agency standard." Learn more and track the bill...

Partners Outdoors videos feature national outdoor recreation leaders

The 2014 Partners Outdoors conference, sponsored by the American Recreation Coalition, held at the U.S. Department of the Interior featured outdoor recreation leaders like National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis, U.S. Forest Service Associate Chief Mary Wagner, Virginia State Parks Director Joe Elton, author Audrey Peterman, and Vail Resorts Inc. Vice President Rick Cables. Videos of their presentations and lively discussion are available from the American Recreation Coalition. Read more and see videos...

The US DOT is currently accepting public comments on proposed changes to its transportation safety rules. It's an opportunity to start holding states more accountable for traffic deaths, and to enforce the safety laws as they're written. Congress has charged states with reducing injuries and fatalities, and the request is for US DOT to hold states accountable for doing so. Provide input...

The National Park Service helps partners plan successful locally-led outdoor recreation and natural resource conservation projects. The Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance (RTCA) Program is accepting applications for assistance from local organizations, agencies, and communities. Applications for 2015 projects are due by August 1, 2014. Read more...

We're looking for great Recreational Trails Program projects

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 support@recreationaltrailsinfo.org. See examples in the 2013 Report and check the database to see if your trail received RTP funding...

Shop and support American Trails this summer

Support American Trails! For June and July, purchase from www.CampGear.com, www.InlineSkates.com, or www.WaterOutfitters.com and a portion of the proceeds will get donated to one of 3 outdoor charities. Please pick American Trails and Help Ensure Trails For Our Future.

If American Trails gets the most donations, we will also win a $1,000 bonus! Thank you in advance for your support!

 NEWS

20,000th RTP Project: the Wild Goose State Trail

We are excited to share that Wisconsin's Wild Goose State Trail was the 20,000th project to be entered into the Recreational Trails Program Database! Since the inception of the Recreational Trails Program in 1993, this project has been awarded five RTP grants totaling $114,000 with 100 percent matching funds for a total of $228,000. Read more and see photos...

West Virginia trails now available on digital maps

The West Virginia Trail Inventory is a digital map of hiking, biking, horseback, water, and all-terrain vehicle trails throughout the state that is believed to be one of the first of its kind in the nation. Outdoor enthusiasts now have the ability to plan trips on about 4,000 miles of recreational trail entirely online, whether from a desktop, tablet, or smartphone. Read more and access maps... 

Ohio author publishes new statewide trail guide

Dover native Gary Williams hopes his new book, "Hiking Ohio," will help Ohioans as well as visitors become more familiar with all the natural diversity that can be found in the Buckeye State. The guide features 83 different hikes in all parts of Ohio. Read more...

Looking Back at 25 Years of Greenway Expansion

The Raleigh Public Record reports on the city's efforts to develop its trail system, one mile at a time: "When Vic Lebsock began working for the city, there were only 22 miles of paths for walkers and bicyclists to enjoy. Now, 25 years later, the city boasts more than 100 miles of greenway trail, one of reasons cited when Raleigh is named to 'best of' lists." Read more and see photos... 

New Trestle for Virginia Creeper Trail replaces rail bridge

The Washington County News reported on a totally new major trestle built for the Virginia trail. "The $2 million project opened on the three-year anniversary of the original trestle's destruction -- after a tornado cut a swath across Washington County." Read more and see photos... 

AZ Trail Association celebrates 20 years of building trail and partnerships

Over the past 30 years, outdoor enthusiasts have worked with land managers throughout the state to connect existing trails and build fresh tread to create one of the premier long-distance trails in America. What started as the dream of one man -- an elementary school teacher from Flagstaff named Dale Shewalter -- has evolved into the Arizona Trail Association, a successful nonprofit organization that engages volunteers, families, schools, businesses, and clubs to take responsibility for the entire 800-mile trail. Read more and see photos...

Atlanta BeltLine pounces on TIGER Grant

The Atlanta BeltLine trail will receive a grant of $18 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation's TIGER program. The BeltLine is a project to reclaim a 22-mile loop of unused freight-rail corridor that circles Atlanta. The project includes the construction of shared-use trails, trailheads, and access points, and the preservation of a future streetcar transit corridor. Read more and see photos... 

Featured National Recreation Trail: Gary L. Haller Trail, Kansas

Johnson County, Kansas, manages the 17.5-mile Gary L. Haller Trail which begins in Olathe and continues north through Lenexa and Shawnee. The scenic, multi-use route was one of the first major trail facilities completed in the Kansas City metropolitan area. The trail includes eight public access locations with a variety of facilities. Read more and see photos...

American Trails Cool Trail Solutions Best Practices: stay on the trail - signs and messages for trail users

One of the most important message for visitors in sensitive areas is "stay on the trail." A wide variety of signs are used by trail managers to remind hikers and riders not to stray off the trail. Some messages are just the facts, others make clear the reasons -- harm to vegetation, erosion, or sensitive habitat. Interpretive information on wildlife and the environment will reinforce the importance of staying on the trail. See commentary and gallery of photos... 

A case study on storm water and trails 

Storm water can not only be dangerous for trail users but also to nearby streams and causing damage or death to any plants or animals that live there. StormSlide overside drains were used as an alternative to the usual bulky, metal drains for a trail in Pleasanton, CA. Read the case study...

American Trails Business Directory IN THE SPOTLIGHT:

das Manufacturing, Inc. has been providing permanent markers for a wide variety of applications since 1983. das Trail Markers are used for permanent applications (7+ years) requiring maximum durability. das Trail Decals are used for temporary marking (one year or less) on asphalt or concrete. Perfect for event marking, temporary locating needs, or marking on large areas with uneven surfaces. Learn more about das Manufacturing...

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:

• Alta Planning + Design 
• American Conservation Experience 
• Back Country Horsemen of America
• Beneficial Designs, Inc.
• Berntsen International, Inc.
• BioSpan Technologies, Inc. 
• Bureau of Land Management 
• Canycom USA, Inc. 
• Composite Advantage 
• Diamond Pier 
• E.T. Techtonics, Inc. 
• Forest Park Conservancy 
• GameTime 
• GatorBridge™ and GatorDock™ 
• Handy Home Products, Inc.
• Metro 
• MIG, Inc.
• National Park Service 
• Northwest Youth Corps 
• Okanogan Trail Construction 
• Pioneer Bridges 
• PlayCore 
• Professional Trailbuilders Association 
• Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau 
• Rhino Marking and Protection Systems
• Terrabilt, Inc. 
• The Greater Dayton Ohio Region 
• The Intertwine Alliance 
• Tour-Mate Systems
• Trail Insight 
• Travel Portland 
• US Fish and Wildlife Service 
• USDA Forest Service 
• Western Wood Structures 
• Wheeler  

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...  

Trans Canada Trail: the world's longest trail project?

Since the Trans Canada Trail was founded in 1992, its vision has been one of a trail stretching from coast to coast to coast. A trail for the enjoyment of hikers, walkers, cyclists, horseback riders, and -- more recently -- canoeists and kayakers in summer, and cross country skiers, snowshoers, and snowmobilers in winter. Now 72% connected, the Trail is nearly 17,000 kilometers long. Read more...

Nepal's Great Himalaya Trail

The Great Himalaya Trail visits some of the most remote communities on earth, it passes through lush green valleys, arid high plateaus, and incredible landscapes. The trail covers the full distance of the Himalayan Range in Nepal and continues through Tibet, India, and Myanmar, and Pakistan in the West. Nepal's GHT is divided into ten connecting treks with a duration of 2-3 weeks each on average. Read more and access trekking resources...

Alberta commits $10 million to repair flood-damaged trails

The backcountry trail flood rehabilitation program, expected to be complete by March 2017, will restore both hiking and off-road vehicle trails bridges in recreation areas and other public lands outside of the provincial parks. Up to 1,000 bridges were damaged in the floods of June, 2013. Read more and see photos...

Learn more in 2014 with American Trails Advancing Trails Webinar Series

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 and how to register for August and September webinars coming soon): 

• JULY 17, 2014: Urban Trails in Difficult Places (presented by Bob Searns, The Greenway Team; Chuck Flink, FASLA, Greenways, Inc.; and Bill Nuemann, DHM Design)  REGISTER TODAY! 
• 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 Advancing Trails Webinar Series schedule...  

Exploring New Riding Trails? Consider These Tips.

Before you saddle up and head off to the new trail you've learned about, there are certain preparations you need to make for a safe and pleasurable ride. Both you and your horse must be prepared for the new trail-riding experience to avoid mistakes and mishaps that can lead to danger. What you do before you hit the trail and while you're on it will make or break your experience. Read more...

New Transportation Alternatives Program Case Studies

The Federal Highway Administration commissioned five case studies on early implementation of the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). These case studies provide a variety of examples of how States and Metropolitan Planning Organizations have set up their TAP competitive processes. The case studies have overall program descriptions, TAP Implementation, Challenges and Lessons Learned, Critical Factors for Success, and contact information. The States are DE, FL, ID, MI, and TX. Read more and download studies...

"Everyone is a Pedestrian" provides safety resources

Unfortunately, pedestrians were one of the few groups of road users to experience an increase in fatalities in the United States in 2012, totaling 4,743 deaths. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration along with the Federal Highway Administration provides a new website with safety tips and resources for local leaders, city planners, parents, and others involved in improving pedestrian safety. Access Everyone is a Pedestrian...

Summer trails training and educational opportunities 

Here are some of the trail-related training opportunities coming up this summer. See the Online Trails Training Calendar for details... 

June 27-28 - Greenfield, NH

* Trail Construction for Universal Access Workshop

July 9-13 - Merrill, WI

* Ice Age Trail University

July 10 - Chattanooga, TN

* Navigating MAP-21 Workshop

July 10-13 - Winona, MN

* Subaru/IMBA Trailbuilders School

July 17 - Online Webinar hosted by American Trails

* Webinar: Building Urban Trails in Difficult Places

July 17-20 - Brookings, SD

* Subaru/IMBA Trailbuilders School

July 19-20 - Aspen, CO

* Crew Leader Training hosted by Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers

July 31 - August 3 - Winter Park, CO

* Subaru/IMBA Trailbuilders School

August 28 - Online Webinar hosted by American Trails

* Webinar: Fundamentals of Mountain Trail Sustainability ~ Part 2 of 3 presented by Hugh Duffy with the National Park Service

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

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.  

 QUICK LINKS 

• Learn more about the International Trails Symposium ~ May 17-20, 2015 in Portland, Oregon

• 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! 
• 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.

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: Forbidden Drive is a historic route for bikes, hikers, and horses in Philadelphia's 1,800-acre Wissahickon Valley Park; Photo by Stuart Macdonald