2025 Summit Proceedings
These proceedings capture the shared knowledge and resources from the Summit, including downloadable presentations and session summaries. Whether you're a seasoned trail builder or a first-time attendee, we hope this archive serves as a valuable reference and inspiration for your ongoing work in creating accessible, sustainable, and inclusive trail systems. Summit Sessions are summarized below. A hyperlink indicates that the speaker has shared their presentation for publication on the International Trails Summit website.
Tuesday, 4/15
Plenary Session
Welcome, About PTBA and American Trails, Thank you to our sponsors
Aaryn Kay, Executive Director, PTBA
Mike Passo, Executive Director, American Trails
Wisconsin Welcome
Cassie Mordini, Director, WI Office of Outdoor Recreation
Joleen Stinson, Parks Director, Dane County Parks
Melissa Agard, Dane County Executive
Award Ceremony
Aaryn Kay, Executive Director, PTBA
Mike Passo, Executive Director, American Trails
Candace Gallagher, Conference Coordinator, American Trails
Keynote: James Edward Mills
James Edward Mills kicked off the Summit with stories that highlighted the role of people of color in preserving public lands sparked inspiring conversations throughout the event.
James is the author of The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors, which was named by Outside Magazine as one of the 10 “Outdoor Books that Shaped the Last Decade.” James is also the co-writer/co-producer of the documentary film “An American Ascent.” James is the Founder/CEO/Executive Producer of the Joy Trip Project, a news gathering and reporting organization that covers the business, art, and culture of the outdoor recreation industry.
Plenary Session
The Outdoor Recreation Economy; Recent wins and headwinds; and the Path Forward
Chris Perkins, Vice President of Programs, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable
RTP Full Funding Act
Mike Passo, Executive Director, American Trails
Rails to Trails Conservancy National Update
Marianne Fowler, Senior Strategist, Rails to Trails Conservancy
The Trail Skills Project and Trail Competencies
Aaryn Kay and Mike Passo
American Trails and PTBA: Looking Forward
Aaryn Kay and Mike Passo
Concurrent Sessions, Trail Talks, & Tech Talks
Trail Maintenance Management Planning
Concurrent Session
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Kim Frederick, Chinook Associates LLC
This 60-minute session is designed to guide land managers, trail supervisors, and outdoor recreation professionals through the key steps of creating an effective trail maintenance management program. Proper maintenance is essential to preserving trail systems, ensuring user safety, and protecting natural resources, and this workshop provides the tools and strategies to develop a sustainable, well-organized program.Participants will explore the core components of trail maintenance management, including identifying maintenance needs, scheduling regular inspections, and prioritizing tasks. The session will cover best practices for developing a maintenance plan that addresses common trail issues such as erosion control, vegetation management, and tread upkeep. Participants will also learn how to collect and use trail condition data to make informed decisions about maintenance priorities.
Additionally, the workshop will discuss how to allocate resources effectively, including staffing, equipment, and materials. The role of volunteers in supporting maintenance efforts will be highlighted, with strategies for engaging the community in routine upkeep. By the end of the workshop, participants will be equipped with the knowledge to design a tailored trail maintenance management program that ensures trails remain safe, sustainable, and enjoyable for all users, while also optimizing time and resources.
Enhancing Trail Work Pre-Project Planning and Post-Project Metrics with ArcGIS Quick Capture
Concurrent Session
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Andrea Hassler, Access Fund
Loryn Posladek, Access Fund
In an increasingly digital world, effective trail management requires new solutions for project planning and post-project evaluation. This presentation will demonstrate how the ArcGIS Quick Capture app can be customized to streamline stewardship programs from initial planning to the collection of vital metrics after project completion. Access Fund is a rock climbing non-profit focused on the advocacy and stewardship of climbing areas whose utilization of the Quick Capture app will serve as a case study in how this tool can be used to enhance collaboration, improve data accuracy, and allow for more effective planning and execution of stewardship projects.
The Future of Pump Tracks
Concurrent Session
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Martin Matinec, Alliance ASE GmBH
Jake Carsten, Alliance ASE USA
In this presentation we will discuss the following:
- past, present, and future trends of pump tracks
- pump track public benefits, impact on youth, and safety
- problems with different users and skill levels, shape and design, and site integration
- trending eco friendly materials and impact on green urban areas
Fostering trail stewards from the trailhead to the tool shed
Concurrent Session
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Nicolette (Nikki) Burtis, Friends of Acadia
Stephanie (Steph) Ley, Friends of Acadia
Pat Pero, Dig !t Trail Builders Alliance
Anyone can be a trail steward; they just need the right tools! There is no one size fits all approach to building and supporting stewards or what being a steward looks like. Friends of Acadia and Dig !t Trail Builders have the shared vision of creating stewards of the trails through meaningful engagement and pathways to action. Join this panel to learn how each program approaches different pieces of the stewardship equation from your everyday trail user to volunteer management tools.
Creating Career Pathways and Access to Trails for Everyone
Concurrent Session
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Lindsay Lancaster, Student Conservation Association
Jason Croft, Student Conservation Association
Learn how to create welcoming outdoor spaces while creating a continuum to career pathways. This presentation will offer a comprehensive look at barriers that prevent communities from accessing trails and provide actionable strategies for overcoming these challenges. We will share how the Student Conservation Association’s national Urban Green program and Alaska Corps program models build a robust pipeline of conservation leaders and create career pathways. We will present strategies and resources for securing institutional and federal funding to support innovative trail programs, projects, and career pathways.
Increasing Indigenous Stewardship on Trails
Concurrent Session
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Clay Showalter, Arizona Trail Association
The Arizona Trail Association's Seeds of Stewardship program serves over 200 Native American students across Northern Arizona each school year, taking each student out at least four times on the Arizona National Scenic Trail. The goal of these free, multilingual programs is to teach the fundamentals of trail stewardship, and to inspire individuals who are often underrepresented in conservation and outdoor recreation industries to pursue careers in these fields.
In this session, the Arizona Trail Association will share lessons and strategies for establishing tribal partnerships, facilitating culturally responsive programs, and developing sustainable program models that meet both the needs of an organization and the communities served. A special focus of this session is how to approach this work in scenarios where staff are not representative of the communities with which they aim to engage.
Rails-with-Trails Design and Engineering Guidebook
Concurrent Session
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Jeff Ciabotti, Toole Design
Emily Lauderdale, PLA, Toole Design
Peter Sanderson, PLA, Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission
This session will present FHWA’s new guidebook on design and engineering of rails-with-trails providing design framework, details, and considerations that reflect a safety-first approach for railroad operations and trail users who cross-over or alongside an active rail corridor. Corridors controlled by the railroad industry have a profound impact on the communities through which they pass: they can either be barriers that divide neighborhoods, or they can be resources addressing economic, safety, health, climate, transportation, and recreation goals. State, regional, and local trail building agencies are seeking clear, consistent design guidance for working with the railroads to achieve shared goals of safety, liability reduction, connectivity, and community benefits. Studies show collaboratively planned and well-designed trails can positively affect the safety of all transportation system users by proactively managing people’s behavior along and across railroad tracks. Subject matter experts and guidebook authors from Toole Design will be joined by Peter Sanderson, the Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation project manager for the Border-to-Border Trail, which is a growing rail-with-trail in southeast Michigan. The presentation will be kicked-off by Christopher Douwes of FHWA after which presenters will share best practices found in the guidebook and findings from case studies of rails-with-trails across the country.
Insurance for Trail Projects
Trail Talk
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Ben Todd, Granite Insurance Agency
Cameron Annas, Granite Insurance Agency
Join Granite Insurance for an insightful session covering the fundamental aspects of insurance. This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the key basics for getting started, understanding evolving requirements as your business grows, and recommendations for securing additional protection. You’ll also gain a high-level understanding of potential claims and how to navigate them. Take a deeper dive into specific coverages and learn what insurance companies are looking for, as well as the potential impacts on your business. Perfect for those looking to make informed decisions about their insurance needs.
Empire State Trail Towns: Resilient Community Partnerships
Concurrent Session
1:30-2:30 pm
Erica Schneider, Parks & Trails New York
Dylan Carey, Parks & Trails New York
In recent decades, Trail Town programs have gained traction across North America, empowering communities to leverage their recreational assets for economic and quality-of-life benefits. But Trail Town programs are not one-size-fits-all, and even within a single program, different partnership models may resonate differently with different communities. This presentation by Parks & Trails New York will explore two distinct models of Trail Town programs in New York State: one centered around a single linear trail and the other embracing a regional recreational asset-based approach.
We will delve into PTNY's adaptable framework, designed to accommodate a variety of partnership types within communities, thereby enhancing the likelihood of program longevity and sustainability. The session will highlight how this flexibility not only fosters collaboration but also enables communities to respond effectively to challenges like COVID and natural disasters. A compelling case study will illustrate the emergence of a Trail Town advocacy group that played a critical role in post-tornado recovery, allowing the city's emergency response team to focus on broader issues while ensuring that the trail was quickly restored. Join us to discover how customized partnerships can transform community resilience and maximize the impact of Trail Town initiatives.
Growing Your Trail Organization
Tech Talk
1:30-2:30 pm
Eric Howard, Executive Director, American Discovery Trail Society
Trails and greenways require management, often a mixture of volunteers and paid staff who deal with upgrading the physical infrastructure; relations with landowners, businesses and agencies; and overseeing teams. And the legal issues of running a non-profit or working for a public entity. It's about building bridges -- physical and metaphorical. The needs of specific trails and trail systems inevitably change over time. This session will explore how to prepare for and manage growth and change: finding new partners and funders, stewarding existing relationships, and addressing institutional change.* Help participants identify two immediate changes that they can make to improve program operations.* Help participants identify two organizations that they would like to emulate* Help participants identify three specific new goals that would be part of a three-year planNote: this program will not have "attendees"; they are all "participants" because this will be an active program. No passive listening or checking emails on the cell phone.
Innovations in Trail Building: Tools That Work as Hard as You Do
Tech Talk
1:30-2:30
Tim Regan, Shapeshifter Tool Co
Trail building is tough, demanding work—but what if the tools you used could make it easier, more efficient, and even a bit more enjoyable? In this tech talk, Tim Regan will share innovations designed to improve how trail builders perform their work. Shapeshifter Tool Co. is at the forefront of hand tool innovation, designing ergonomic and customizable tools tailored for trail builders. With products like lightweight tool heads and extra-long handles, Shapeshifter’s designs aim to reduce strain on the body and make long, gruelling hours more manageable. Beyond their core lineup, Tim has developed a range of groundbreaking concepts—some still in the prototype stage—that offer a glimpse into the future of trail building. This talk dives into the mind of a trail-building mastermind, exploring creative solutions designed to tackle everyday trail-building challenges. Highlights include the Trail Ferry, an electric wheelbarrow capable of hauling heavy equipment across rugged terrain, and the Oxen, a shoulder-carrying system that makes transporting tools to remote worksites easier. Join us for an engaging conversation about how the right tools can elevate your trail-building experience.Understand the role of innovation in trail-buildingDiscover emerging tools for trail constructionGain insight into the creative process behind tool development
Selecting Decking for Pedestrian Bridges and Boardwalks
Tech Talk
1:30-2:30
Dan Winey, Creative Composites Group
The selection of decking material is a crucial and often overlooked first step in determining a pedestrian bridge or boardwalk system. The project design criteria as set forth by the Owner and Engineers will initiate a design; however, many facets of the project will determine a proper deck material selection. The facets of a project that affect the final design of a bridge or boardwalk design include frequency of use of the structure, location of the structure, project budget, project permitting requirements during construction, and, again, design loading. This "teck talk" will introduce Owners, Engineers and Contractors to some specific loading considerations as well as specification writing in order to have project outcomes achieved.Establish Design Loads; Learn ramifications of some project facets and options; Avoid some specification pitfalls.
Accessibility Starts with Information
Tech Talk
3:00-4:00
Jon Kovach, Pannier Graphics
Julie Hein, Lake Ledge Naturalist
Three primary accessibility requirements include physical accessibility, effective communication, and accommodations for individuals with visual impairments. This presentation will serve to educate on how to address all three of these topics.Learn how to have a fully accessible trail.When that is not possible, learn how to communicate what your trail looks and feels like.And to those who have visual impairments, how can they access your trail?
Enhancing Trail Management and Conservation with Count Data: Lessons from 3 Continents
Tech Talk
3:00-4:00
Kara Martin, Eco-Counter
Recent years have revealed how much we rely on and take for granted having access to natural settings for fresh air activities. Globally, many parks and trails have seen a significant uptick in attendance,and many have struggled to keep up with maintenance, adequate staffing, parking, and visitor flows.In turn, this has affected the overall visitor experience.Parks and trails organisations are also keen to monitor their ecological conservation and minimize visitors’ impact on sensitive areas. Park and trail builders must perform a delicate balancing act between maximizing visitor numbers and ensuring flora and fauna protection.Collecting and interpreting total visitor numbers using automatic trail counter technology–including data on peak days & times of day -can help ensure both positive visitor experiences and enhanced environmental protection. With this data, parks and natural space managers are better equipped to organize staffing, schedule maintenance, and secure and allocate appropriate funding.1. How automatic trail counter data offers insight into nature conservation, fire risks, and litter control. 2. How long-term count data gives a holistic view of total visitation and its impacts on the park network. 3. How trail count data is used to influence decision making on staffing, maintenance, and routes in a park.
Pixel Trail | TNT | Tech 'n Trails
Tech Talk
3:00-4:00
Udo Blenkhorn, Pixel Trail Inc
Martin Gauthier, Chief Geek
Pixel Trail
Pixel Trail at TNT – Tech n TrailsReady to redefine your trail network management? Pixel Trail presents a powerhouse lineup of five apps designed to simplify, streamline, and reward every step in outdoor trail network management.Flag !t - Let users be the eyes on the ground, reporting incidents in seconds, keeping you in the loop without the Facebook scavenger hunts.Action !t - Centralize incident and maintenance management for trail networks with tools to assign teams or tap volunteers in a snap.Dig !t - Built for outdoor volunteers, this tool organizes and empowers trailblazers to contribute where it counts, fueling the backbone of trail creation and maintenance.Reward !t - Recognize and reward volunteer contributions with a points system that turns effort into perks across your community.GetTrail.info - Make trail status updates a breeze, keeping users informed with real-time conditions and even synced display boards.Join us as we reveal how these tools can turn trail management from a maze to a map, putting power back in your hands and rewards on the trails!Streamlining Trail Network management
Picking the Right Path: A Trails Primer for Land Managers
Concurrent Session
3:00 - 4:00 pm
Ralph Protano, Forest City Trails
This trail talk will equip land managers with insight on navigating the dynamic universe of managing sustainable trails. Discussion topics will include:
- Effective and efficient trail maintenance management
- Leveraging resources (financial, staff, volunteer, etc.) to attain your trail goals
- Contracting with trail professionals
- Balancing your land management goals
- Effectively working with volunteers
- Equipment acquisition, rental, storage
- Funding strategies
The goal is of this session is to have a discussion that helps attendees to manage trails that are safe, sustainable, and enjoyable for all users, while also optimizing time and resources.
An Urban Thru-hike? Linking the Bay Area Ridge Trail
Concurrent Session
3:00 - 4:00 pm
Ryan Fritz, Bay Area Ridge Trail Council
Kyvan Elep, Bay Area Ridge Trail Council
It’s the ultimate adventure. Walking out your door and hopping on a 550-mile trail that takes you on an epic journey circling the ridgelines of the San Francisco Bay. This adventure is coming much closer to reality as over 400 miles have been opened toward completing the Bay Area Ridge Trail. But many challenges remain before it can be called a thru-hike. Where do I stay the night? Where do I find water? What am I supposed to do until all the gaps have been connected?This presentation will explore the challenges and solutions to completing the Bay Area Ridge Trail and the development of the circumnavigation program to allow users to complete all currently open sections of trails. The first section will explore the suite of online maps, apps, and other trail finding tools that have recently been developed and fine-tuned to help users plan their trips, including collaborative technology partnerships with AllTrails, FarOut Guides, and HipCamp. The second part will explain our program for guided outings and providing access to restricted sections of trail. The final section will explore pursuing National Scenic Trail status and the doors that a national designation can open for a regional trail.1. Collaborating with technology companies to deliver tools to users2. Using ArcGIS Online to develop in-house trail resources3. Establishing a pilot program for guided outings and events4. Pros and cons to pursuing national trail designations
Trail Partnerships, Programs, and Career Pathways
Concurrent Session
3:00 - 4:00 pm
Kristina Cannon, Main Street Skowhegan
Amber Albe, Main Street Skowhegan
Trails are tools for community transformation. They bring people together, encourage collaboration and volunteerism, provide opportunities for civic engagement, catalyze a culture of health and wellness, and positively impact the economy. Learn how an unlikely organization—downtown revitalization nonprofit Main Street Skowhegan (MSS)—is spearheading trail development, without owning a single acre of land. Through strong partnerships; weekly free programming on area trails; the launch of a walk-in, gear-lending library; the creation of micro-credentialed outdoor recreation career pathways; and master planning efforts, MSS is revitalizing Skowhegan by thinking outside (of the box).
MSS started the Skowhegan Outdoors AmeriCorps Program in 2019 to ensure equitable access to the outdoors. AmeriCorps members serving as Outdoor Rec Facilitators lead free outdoor programs and operate the Skowhegan Outdoors Basecamp, a gear library offering more than 200 pieces of equipment—from canoes to camping gear to cross-country skis—that residents can borrow for free.
In partnership with a local university, MSS is curating, testing, and micro-credentialing outdoor rec career pathways, including trail development, for AmeriCorps members and residents. To enhance and expand trail infrastructure in Skowhegan, MSS commissioned a trail master plan in 2023, and the organization is now working with local partners to implement.
Planning Trails With Intention: The Velomont Vision Plan (VT) and Mena Arkansas trails
Concurrent Session
3:00 - 4:00 pm
Dayton Crites, SE Group
Scott Prior , SE Group
Patrick Olstad, SE Group
Trail building is intentional. Trail planning must be. Intentional development of high-quality trail systems requires a broad perspective that anticipates the fiscal and physical impacts of trails. From improved active transportation to streamlined permitting and reduced environmental impacts, planning is a prerequisite for building great trail systems. Our team will present case studies from our portfolio where our planning process unites stakeholders, identifies critical goals, and streamlines the process between visionary plan and built singletrack.
The Velomont Vision Plan proposes a 485-mile trail across Vermont that connects 23 mountain biking chapters across public and private lands and links 27 communities across the state. We’ll show you how the project uncovered private landowners eager for trails in their backyard and aligned trail and conservation advocates around the same project.
Our presenters will also showcase our multi-disciplinary process of developing plans for an extensive trail network for Mena, Arkansas – a project that will create a world-class mountain biking experience with a focus on lift-served and backcountry MTB trails, supporting the state’s goals for economic vitality by capitalizing on relationships between local, state, and federal partners. We will also discuss the critical importance of our planning work done for nearby downtown Mena.
We Don't Need Trails: the Social Capital of Outdoor Recreation
Concurrent Session
3:00 - 4:00 pm
Jed Olson, Outdoor Recreation Alliance (ORA Trails)
What do we really need to be healthy and happy? Trails and outdoor recreation are one of the most efficient pathways to positive personal and community impact. Come explore and share how trails can provide lifestyle improvements, economic impact, and sense of place as a high ROI investment in your life and your town. ORA Trails is building happy, healthy, and resilient communities through sustainable and equitable outdoor recreation opportunities... and you can too.
Urban Nature Trail Stewardship - Best practices and design guidelines for NYC's 300 - Mile Urban Citywide Trail System
Concurrent Session
3:00 - 4:00 pm
Josh Otero, Natural Areas Conservancy
Isaac KirkDavidoff, NYC Parks
Gabriel Cummings, Natural Areas Conservancy
A review of NYC Parks & Natural Areas Conservancy's Citywide Trails Program’s work within the 300-mile urban nature trail network in New York City. When the program began ten years ago, we were confronted with a redundant and confusing network of poorly maintained trails. Through creation of the trail formalization process and development of a citywide trails team, we have worked to adaptively apply backcountry trails techniques to a unique trail network within the largest city in the country. The presentation will include background and history of the Citywide Trails Program, exploration of techniques that were applied to our Citywide operations, the creation of NYC’s first Trail Designs Guidelines resource document to standardize trail construction and maintenance best practices for use by our in-house trail crew, conservancy partners, seasonal staff, and volunteer Trail Maintainers. The concurrent session will also dive into the incorporation of locally sourced materials such as rock and rot resistant timber to mitigate erosion issues on trails through construction of rock steps, check steps and turnpikes. This will include an overview of best practices, successes and challenges of trail restoration in a high density urban trail system to reduce forest fragmentation and redundancy.
To aid these efforts, we have developed a group of advanced volunteers called Super Steward: Trail Maintainers. The Trail Maintainer Program is managed by Natural Areas Conservancy in partnership with NYC Parks. As recent NYC Parks budget cuts have limited the capacity of the NYC Parks Trail Crew, Trail Maintainers have played an essential role in maintaining and expanding our ability to execute improvement projects citywide. Trail Maintainers aid in the maintenance of the citywide trails system through installation and maintenance of trail structures, pruning and management of vegetation along trail corridors, as well as other maintenance related activities. Trail Maintainers also engage and lead general programming and trail work days, as well as advocacy efforts for the NYC Parks budget. We will briefly cover how we perform outreach and engage with this diverse group of volunteers, the work that these volunteers engage in, how the program is structured and the impact this work has had on our overall trail efforts in NYC.
E-Bikes on Public Lands: MTB/eMTB Trail Rider Research
Concurrent Session
3:00 - 4:00 pm
Jonah Chiarenza, USDOT Volpe National Transportation Systems Center
Alyssa Brodeur, USDOT Volpe Center
Jim Wells, Dead Horse Point State Park
This session will serve as a partial substitution for the topic originally intended to hold this timeslot. In 2022, researchers from the Federal Highway Administration and Volpe National Transportation Systems Center conducted a study into rider trends and behaviors when using conventional and electronic (e)bikes at Massachusetts’ Minuteman National Historical Park (https://trid.trb.org/View/2210188). During the following two years, the team continued their line of research while focusing on electric and conventional mountain bikes at Rothrock State Forest in Pennsylvania, the Slickrock Trail in the Sand Flats Recreation Area in Utah, and Dead Horse Point State Park in Utah. The goal is to contribute real-world analysis to support science-based discussion regarding ebike access to public lands and trails.
This presentation will first outline the findings of the 2022 study, then explore the sites and methodologies being used to expand the research into the Moab, Utah area. Common concerns about ebike usage on public trails will be outlined, and the perspective of the Utah State Parks, where ebikes have been allowed for years, will be introduced along with the implications for collaboration and joint trail systems should these studies result in a change in federal policy.
Shared Identity Events Build Confidence and Leadership
Trail Talk
3:00 - 4:00 pm
Barbara Budd, Superior Hiking Trail Association
Trail maintenance work can be intimidating to people who have never done it before, especially folks who may not feel represented in the average trail crew. Offering shared-identity volunteer work events can provide the safe space needed for many people to discover the fun and fulfillment of working on trail. Barbara Budd has been instrumental in creating all-women and all-femme work events for Washington Trails Association and the Superior Hiking Trail Association. She will share her experience in empowering femme-identifying individuals through these events. In addition, the session will focus on how shared-identity work groups can encourage leadership and offer growth opportunities for aspiring leaders within the group. While Barbara’s work has been with all-femme audiences, the experiences can be transferred to other shared-identity groups.
You can get ‘blood from a turnip’!’ Thinking outside the scope of funding.
Trail Talk
3:00 - 4:00 pm
Kathie Brennan, Ozark Trail Association
Abi Jackson , Ozark Trail Association
In today’s world of finding and securing funding from various sources, including local, state and federal grants, foundations, big and small, sponsorships from businesses, along with donations from established membership or individuals, it is still a hard road to traverse securing financial support for your Trail organization. Many volunteer based grass- roots Trail groups find themselves with little or no financial support from the public land managers where the trail that they care for traverses across. That’s where groups have to become creative in finding and securing those dollars to cover the cost incurred doing the necessary maintenance along multiple miles of public trails. The Missouri-based Ozark Trail Association in the past 21 years has developed a variety of funding sources to be able to be successful as the “Trail crew“ of the Ozark Trail, at 430 miles, it is Missouri’s longest multi-use National Recreation Trail. Join us as we share our successes and failures at raising needed funds to support the work our OTA volunteers do on the Ozark Trail.
Poster Sessions
Reclaiming lost Connections
Derek Seifert, Barr Engineering
Andrew Papke-Larson, Barr Engineering
Minnesota has a rich history of natural resource extraction and waves of community development. In mining districts, entire towns have been moved or abandoned and peoples have spread apart as the mines expanded. As regions prepare for mine closures, trails present opportunities to reclaim the space minelands that separate the regions communities, while shortening the connections between them.
Today the new Redhead Mountain Bike Park in Chisholm, Minnesota, as well as Tioga Mountain Bike Park in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, are Iron Range examples of this kind of reuse. These projects follow in the footsteps of the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area, which was developed on the State’s first iron mining district.
We will briefly document the history of how mineland communities separate over time, as well as depict the unique opportunity these mine landscapes present for trail builders. With proper environmental planning and engineering, these projects can provide benefits that go beyond recreation or human connections. Since mining landscapes are ubiquitous across the world, we believe this template of reuse, and hopefully, redevelopment, has potential to be used in almost any geography or cultures.
How are you making trails more climate resilient?
Natalie Chin, Wisconsin Sea Grant
The Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI) is a statewide, collaborative effort to understand the impacts of climate change and help foster solutions. This poster, organized by WICCI’s Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Working Group, will share recently produced tools and resources that are aimed at helping outdoor recreation professionals account for climate change. In addition, this poster will be used to distribute an informal survey via QR code and paper that asks attendees to tell us what tools and resources they are using to incorporate climate change into their trail management decisions. A compilation of this information will be sent to anyone who requests it after the conference.
The Path Forward: A Framework for Anti-Displacement Strategies in Rural Trail-Based Economies
Mistaya Smith, MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning
This Master's thesis examines how rural communities can use trail systems as an asset-based economic development strategy, while minimizing the rural gentrification that can accompany the addition of recreational and scenic amenities to these communities. From agriculture to recreation, rural communities are often viewed exclusively through a focus on the profitable value of these lands, which can result in exploitation, cultural erasure, and displacement of local dwellers. Based on case studies of trails in the rural Northeast, this research offers a framework of best practices for outdoor recreation and community planners to apply toward creating trails that develop place attachment and holistically serve rural communities through financial, mobility, and social means.
How to Move a Multi-Phase Trail Forward – Persistence and Persuasion.
Lennie Stover, Red Line Greenway
This poster supports Trail Champions and their partners in navigating the challenges of developing multi-phase trails and greenways. It covers identifying diverse funding sources, marketing future phases effectively, engaging new partners and funders, advocating for underserved communities, and maintaining strong, up-to-date stakeholder relationships.
Trail user circulation patterns and mapping: a case study
Michael Reeder, Witness Tree Geographic Information Services
Understanding the spatial and temporal aspects of trail use is essential for managing trail networks, visitor experiences, and natural and cultural resources. Circulation maps provide a means of measuring and assessing how users engage with trails. A case study from a regional park in the Santa Ana Mountains foothills of southern California involved quantifying visitors by user groups and mapping patterns of use, comparing time of day and weekday versus weekend visitation. Activities of potential management interest such as dog walking, e-bikes, off-trail use, collecting, and wildlife viewing were observed and recorded and the implications for providing quality visitor experiences and sustainable management in close proximity to a densely populated urban area were considered.
Trail Opportunities on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
Karen Katz, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
Jen Bratsch, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
Katie LeMoine, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest spans over 1.5 million acres of public land in northern Wisconsin. With over 900 miles of snowmobile trails, over 250 miles of ATV trails, over 450 miles of hiking trails, including segments of the North Country Trail and Ice Age Trail; over 100 miles of mountain bike trails and over 200 miles of cross-country ski trails, the national forest provides ample opportunity for outdoor recreation. Initiating projects on federal land can take years of development to see to fruition as agencies evaluate projects through the National Environmental Policy Act process. This poster session will provide information on where and how one can recreate on the national forest, highlight recent trail development projects, and highlight current partnerships. Presenters will discuss best practices for partnering with the Forest Service and explain management challenges.
Regional Trail Training Program Development
Kim Frederick, Chinook Associates LLC
An informal discussion with individuals interested in developing a Regional Trail Training Program. Content will include: the core components of a trail training program, including curriculum design, skill-building modules, and addressing regional trail system needs.
Wednesday, 4/16
Concurrent Sessions and Trail Talks
Redhead Mountain Bike Park - Reshaping the mine lands in Minnesota
Concurrent Session
9:00- 10:00 am
Pete Kero, Barr Engineering and Iron Range Off-Road Cyclists
Bridgit Maruska, City of Chisholm
Marcy Bean, Barr Engineering
Redhead Mountain Bike Park (Redhead) is nestled just outside of Chisholm, Minnesota, on 1,225 acres of idled mine lands. Envisioned in 2008 by community volunteers, the park has become a destination outdoor recreation facility and an economically vital community asset.
Centered around ten water-filled, idled iron mines, the initial Redhead trails were constructed through a unique partnership and land use agreement. Opening these mine lands for legal recreational use required over a decade of project development and a change to state laws regarding mine pit fencing. Since opening in 2020, the park has provided residents with cost-free access to a world-class outdoor recreation venue and has drawn tens of thousands of cyclists and hikers to the region every year, boosting the tourism industry. It also attracts and retains a high-quality workforce and stimulates new business investments in the region.The ultimate vision is to qualify Redhead as an International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) Ride Center with 50 to 75 miles of single-track trails and bike-related amenities surrounding and supporting the City of Chisholm. This presentation will speak to the history of the site, the trails, and the master plan that is helping shape the future of the Iron Range.
Overcoming the challenges of training new generations for the trail industry
Concurrent Session
9:00- 10:00 am
Jay D. Post, Arkansas Tech University
Lori Greminger , Northwest Arkansas Community College
Every generation has challenges when they are entering into the workforce. Gen Z and Gen Alpha are now developing and emerging. How can higher education and your staff training overcoming the challenges to help create new trail professionals?
This conference session will explore how a community college and a university in Arkansas, both with specialized trail programs, are attempting to tackle key challenges in preparing students for careers in the trail industry, including recruitment. Focusing on workforce development, the session will highlight strategies to equip students with both technical skills and sustainable trail-building practices. Additionally, the presentation will address how the needs and expectations of Gen Z and Gen Alpha are reshaping educational approaches, from integrating digital tools to fostering environmental stewardship and working with employers on mentorship and apprenticeship opportunities.
Trail Math - What to Know and How to Use it
Concurrent Session
9:00- 10:00 am
Peter Jensen, Peter S Jensen & Associates, LLC
Good trail development requires the use of math, some basic, some advanced. We will delve into the use of math for the development of All Persons Trails, Hiking trail step calculations, determining rise/run for a number of applications, and dealing with grades on curves. Even math for properly felling trees! This session will be interactive with various exercises for participants to complete.
Trail to Office to Trail - GIS in Trail Planning
Concurrent Session
9:00- 10:00 am
Jon Altschuld, Chinook Landscape Architecture
This session will look at how various GIS software and tools have been used on real world trail projects for site assessment, planning, and design tasks. Tools covered will include field collection apps (OnX, Avenza, Survey123, etc.), desktop GIS (mainly QGIS, with some ESRI), and online webGIS for collaboration and presentation (ESRI). The session will also go through workflows to move data between all of these tools efficiently and to maximize usable data. Presentation will be a digital slideshow combined with working live in various softwares, with Q&A throughout and at the end. This session will also showcase unique GIS software that Chinook has developed specifically for Trails Planning and Assessment workflows.
Elroy-Sparta State Trail Repair: A Case Study
Concurrent Session
9:00- 10:00 am
Bill Biesmann, PE, KL Engineering, Inc.
Andrew Haffele, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
The Elroy-Sparta State Trail is a designated National Recreation Trail and is ranked among the top 15 trails in the U.S. by Travel & Leisure magazine. It is considered the first rail-to-trail project in the country. A beloved destination for bicycling enthusiasts in Wisconsin, this 32.5-mile trail boasts three captivating rock tunnels and connects five charming small towns. It now forms part of an extensive 101-mile trail network. Winding through the picturesque landscapes of wetlands, prairies, farmland, and unglaciated areas, the trail provides an immersive outdoor experience for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike, attracting more than 60,000 visitors annually. In 2018, heavy rains triggered flooding, landslides, and severe damage to a 22-mile segment of the trail between the Village of Norwalk and the City of Elroy. This catastrophic event resulted in structural failures and streambank erosion, requiring the trail to be closed until necessary repairs could be made. In this presentation, attendees will hear about the specific damage to the Elroy-Sparta State Trail caused by the heavy rains and flooding, and learn about the evaluation, planning, and action needed to restore this remarkable recreational resource. The topics covered will include the inspection process, a preliminary study and cost estimates for repairs, and the development of repair and replacement plans. Additionally, the timeline and the processes for repairs, funding, permitting, and agency coordination will be discussed.
Why we’re not talking about economic impact: Centering Community Resilience in Trail Towns
Concurrent Session
9:00- 10:00 am
Julie Judkins, Just-Trails
Amy Camp, Cycle Forward
Explore the importance of taking a community-centered approach to building resilience and culture in trail towns and gateway communities. By moving a focus beyond economic impact, it will emphasize the significance of fostering cultural identity, building climate resilience, and strengthening local connections for trail systems that benefit everyone. The presentation will highlight how gateway communities—those located near parks, trails, and protected lands—often face challenges from tourism, environmental pressures, and can be strengthened through a planning model of centering community resilience. Through case studies and examples, attendees will learn how community-driven initiatives can foster long-term resilience by prioritizing cultural preservation and sustainable practices. A recent report sharing insights from managers of trail town programs across the US and Canada will highlight findings of why engagement strategies are critical for sustaining trails and communities. The presentation will also examine strategies for developing stronger engagement for sustaining relationships, trails, and community lands through collaboration and inclusive engagement and planning. Often recreation planning is driven by economic potential and impact. Our challenge in this session is explicitly NOT to center the outdoor economy, but to reframe and position the benefits of trails far beyond the economic gains we know to be true.
Land Acquisition for Trails
Concurrent Session
9:00- 10:00 am
J.T. Horn, Trust for Public Land
Is your trail on private land leaving it vulnerable to trail closure? Or are you trying to expand your trails, but need a new parcel of land to build the system? Join the Trust for Public Land for a discussion of how to partner with the land trust community to conserve vulnerable trail segments or create new conservation lands that are focused on recreational uses. TPL's strategic plan puts an emphasis on land acquisition for trails and with a particular emphasis on equitable access to trails and investing in rural recreation economies.
How to Build a Trail … Coalition: Lessons Learned
Trail Talk
9:00- 10:00 am
Emmy Andrews, Central Oregon Trail Alliance
Philip Darden, Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association
Nick Bennette, The Vermont Mountain Bike Association
The good, the bad, and the ugly of developing and employing cooperative impact models to achieve trail advocacy goals. The trail stewardship community attracts people with a passion for building, maintaining, and experiencing trails. With the growth of trail use, local trail systems, and the stewardship organizations that manage them, so too has the importance of building organizational capacity in addition to infrastructure to achieve our trail advocacy goals. Coalitions and formal collaborations of trail groups at the state and regional levels have demonstrated their ability to make extraordinary progress, though not without compromises and challenges. This roundtable discussion will feature leaders from four leading state and regional trail coalitions providing perspectives on topics including:
Creating, growing, and sustaining a regional/statewide coalition
Balancing individual autonomy and collective authority
Creating a clear structure for obtaining consensus and making decisions
Developing shared resources
Pursuing shared advocacy outcomes that reflect stakeholder priorities
Maintaining momentum through leadership transitions
Following reflections from each of the panelists on the topics above, the session will then open up for questions from the audience, with an aim to provide targeted guidance and support to those seeking to build or strengthen trail stewardship coalitions of their own.
Ask a Trailbuilder: Contracting Q&A
Trail Talk
9:00 am - 10:00 am
PTBA member panel
Contracting for a trail-related project typically begins with the development of a project bid and ends when the scope of work is complete. This session will be a Q&A with PTBA members - bring your questions on solicitation tools, contractual elements, and processes as they vary with scope of work, resources, and timelines!
Lower Yahara River Trail: Making Connections
Concurrent Session
9:00 am - 10:00 am
Samantha Herheim, KL Engineering, Inc.
Alex DeSmidt, Dane County Parks
Aaron Passow, KL Engineering
Dane County, Wisconsin’s vision for connecting the cities of Madison, McFarland, and Stoughton began with the completion of Phase 1 of the Lower Yahara River Trail in 2017, featuring North America's longest inland boardwalk bridge for non-motorized transportation and an accessible fishing pier. Phase 2, completed in 2024, extended the trail with paved paths, a boardwalk, bridge, accessible pier, and kayak launches. Early and active coordination with stakeholders, including the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Ho-Chunk Nation, WATCO Railroad, and Access Ability Wisconsin (a non-profit organization that supports outdoor access for all), were key to the project's success. This vision connects popular destinations like the Lussier Family Heritage Center, Capital Springs Recreation Area, McDaniel Park, Fish Camp County Park, Door Creek Wildlife Area, and Lake Kegonsa State Park for non-motorized travel and recreation. The presentation will highlight the vision, process, and valuable lessons learned.
Accessibility and Signage Panel
Concurrent Session
9:00 - 10:00 am
Heidi Tillmanns, Trans Canada Trail
Todd Ackerman, Beneficial Designs Inc.
Augusta Stockman, Willamette Valley Visitors Association
Join this exciting panel as we explore the intersection of quality signage and the best practices in providing accessible and inclusive information to trail users. The first panelist will explore best practices for developing signage that plays a vital role in user safety, navigation, and enhancing the overall experience and meets accessibility and inclusivity standards while withstanding the elements. We will examine case studies from Trans Canada Trail and other projects, providing insights into the entire process—from design and material selection to installation and maintenance. Our second panelist from Benficial Designs will get into the specifics of the Federal requirements for Trail signage to provide Trail Access Information. Objective information will be justified for Grade, Cross slope, Tread width, Surface information and Obstacles as it relates to all types of trail user groups. And then the final panelist will get down to the details of how this information is implemented and relevant through a volunteer-powered pilot project in Oregon’s Willamette Valley which offers a model for increasing the availability of accessibility information in outdoor spaces. This session will give attendees powerful tools to improve your signage and accessibility and demonstrate how they can be effectively implemented.
Innovative Strategies for Trail Funding
Concurrent Session
10:30 - 11:30 am
Robert (Bob) Burns, Trek Bicycle Corporation
Dillon Osleger, Sage Trail Alliance
Jed Olson, ORA Trails
Securing sustainable funding for trail development, maintenance, and access is a persistent challenge—but also a space for bold innovation. This session brings together leaders from both the nonprofit and funding sectors to explore approaches to financing trail systems across diverse landscapes and communities.
Speakers will showcase creative funding models including public-private partnerships, grantmaking strategies, philanthropic investments, grassroots fundraising, and revenue-generating initiatives. Through case studies and interactive discussion, participants will learn how funders and trail advocates are working together to align economic, environmental, and community goals through strategic investments in trail infrastructure.
Whether you're launching a new trail project, maintaining an existing network, or seeking to scale your funding efforts, this session offers practical insights and inspiring examples of how to unlock new resources to support vibrant, equitable trail systems.
Maintaining Indigenous' Ways the Indigenous Ways
Concurrent Session
10:30 - 11:30 am
Jacky Tao, Taiwan Thousand Miles Trail Association (TMI Trail)
In Taiwan, the Indigenous' root-seeking movements has gained momentum in recent years. Due to early migrations, the restoration of ancient trails has become key to returning to their old tribes. TMI Trail has long advocated for "eco-craft trail" stewardship, where the philosophy of "adapting to local conditions and sourcing materials locally" is key to rediscovering the traditional craftsmanship and Indigenous wisdom. Since 2018, we initiated the nomination of "Honorary Trail Masters", which allowed us to unearth the Indigenous Ways of trail maintenance, from materials to tools, from techniques to rituals.
In this presentation, we would talk about well-preserved examples from Rukai and Paiwan, and argue that these durable and ecologically sustainable "tacit knowledge" should be the ways to maintain the Indigenous trails "as is", instead of applying modern engineering techniques and materials. In addition, restoring and maintaining ancient trails is more than trail work; it can also be a crucial part of the cultural revitalization.
Now What? Advocating in Uncertain Times
Concurrent Session
10:30 - 11:30 am
Erica Briggs, Rails to Trails Conservancy
Marianne Fowler, Rails to Trails Conservancy
Tyler Ray, American Hiking Society
Feeling overwhelmed and uncertain if your voice matters? Learn how the movement has navigated difficult terrain in the past successfully and emerged stronger. The Rails to Trails Conservancy and American Hiking Association will provide attendees with resources and guidance on effective strategies and tactics for protecting and enhancing public funding for trails.. and hopefully a bit of renewed energy and hope in the power of effective organizing. Attendees at this session will learn to leverage storytelling to improve representation and build meaningful connections between people and place.
Funding Trails: Getting $120 Million on Our MPO's TIP
Concurrent Session
10:30 - 11:30 am
Patrick Starr, PA Environmental Council, Chair, Circuit Trails Coalition
Chris Linn, AICP, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
Elaine Schaefer , Schuylkill River Greenways & Delaware County Council
For years, the Circuit Trails Coalition pushed for significant funding for trail design, construction, and related costs to be included on the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), the MPO for Greater Philadelphia. The coalition recently succeeded, when DVRPC allocated $120 Million of Carbon Reduction Program funds from the Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Bill for trail corridors in Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. When combined with a Circuit Trails CMAQ-funded line item and other projects, the region’s TIP includes more than $250 Million for trail development – landmark funding for the Greater Philadelphia region. The presentation will share the story of the sustained advocacy effort, which included educating elected officials, cultivating and coordinating leaders’ support of trails, and activating a constituency, all of which resulted in the largest share of federal Carbon funds dedicated to trail development in the nation. Speakers will share perspectives from within DVRPC, elected office, and the advocacy sphere, leaving participants with keys to securing this kind of victory in their own regions.
MadBAT- Planning and Implementing Madison’s Urban Singletrack Network
Concurrent Session
10:30 - 11:30 am
Corey Stelljes; P.E., City of Madison – Parks Division
Mike Repyak, International Mountain Bicycling Association
Lisa Laschinger, City of Madison- Parks Division
In 2020 Madison Parks embarked on a journey to bring recreational bike amenities to the City of Madison. This planning and building effort took the form of an urban singletrack network and was named the Madison Bicycle Adventure Trail or MadBAT. In this presentation we will discuss MadBAT’s evolution from community feedback to putting miles of trail on the ground. We will discuss successes and lessons learned along the way. Elements include planning, community engagement, funding and budget, public works bidding, and maintenance.
Trail Bridge Fundamentals: From Site Selection to Structural Loads
Concurrent Session
10:30 - 11:30 am
Charlie Dundas, Tri-State Company
John Gibson, Tri-State Company
This session will introduce the basic types of trail and pedestrian bridges and includes a discussion of the basic considerations of bridge design, site selection, the "physics of bridge functioning,” dead load, live load, and moment of load. Material standards, preservative and fastener specifications will be addressed, as well. The presentation utilizes photos, drawings, animations, and a static display of survey, and layout equipment.
From Trains to Trails: A Historical Overview and Evolution of Trails in Southwest Wisconsin
Concurrent Session
10:30 - 11:30 am
Max Blackbourn, Tri-County Trail Commission
This session delves into the history and current operation of portions of the former "Milwaukee Road" rail line, which is now known as the Cheese Country Trail (located in Green, Iowa and Lafayette Counties) and the DNR owned Pecatonica State Trail (within Lafayette County). We will cover the rail line's historical background, its decline, redevelopment into its present form, its use for both motorized and non-motorized activities, and ongoing maintenance efforts.
Trail Technology for Responsible Recreation Panel
Concurrent Session
10:30 - 11:30 am
Maggie Cawley, OpenStreetMap US
Jake Low, OpenStreetMap US
Pitt Grewe, AllTrails
As hikers in the US have come to rely on mobile applications to navigate our public lands, visitors can be led to dangerous or environmentally sensitive areas when these apps include unofficial and unmaintained trails; and much of that data comes from OpenStreetMap. In this session, OpenStreetMap US (OSM US) and AllTrails will explore how trail data and emerging trail technologies can build the opportunities for responsible recreation and management of trails on public lands.
The Trails Stewardship Initiative at OSM US brings together volunteers, land managers and app developers to improve trail data and address how third-party applications (AllTrails, onX, etc) use and visualize OSM US data. These efforts enable navigation apps to better display OSM US trail data, improving equitable access to the outdoors and the public's ability to understand and plan for the true nature of a trail system, while protecting our sensitive ecosystems. Improving trail data available to third-party apps in OSM provides a way for outdoor spaces to be more accessible to everyone, contributing to a more equitable, responsible, and safe outdoor experience. With the rising number of visitors to public lands and the increased availability of online information, land managers have a unique opportunity to work with third party trail apps to communicate, educate, and inform where visitors are planning their adventures. AllTrails will share case studies from their Public Lands Program and discuss with partners how they work with AllTrails to support responsible outdoor recreation.
Integrating Indigenous Communities into Outdoor Education
Concurrent Session
10:30 - 11:30 am
Cyndi Bergloff, N/A- Independently presenting
This session aims to highlight the crucial role of Indigenous communities in outdoor education and the importance of integrating their perspectives into outdoor recreation practices. By centering Indigenous voices, we can enrich outdoor experiences for all participants and promote deeper understanding of the land and its history. Attendees will gain insights into identifying and engaging with local Tribal and Indigenous communities, fostering ethical collaborations that honor their knowledge and traditions. This approach not only enhances outdoor education but also supports community resilience and sustainability in an ever-changing world.
As a Boundary Waters Indigenous interpretive guide and a descendant of both the Grand River Band of Ottawa Indians and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, I bring a unique perspective on bridging Western knowledge systems with Indigenous ways of knowing. My background in teaching Anishinaabemowin and facilitating programs that incorporate Indigenous science and storytelling empowers educators to create inclusive outdoor learning environments.
This session will encourage participants to rethink their approaches to outdoor education, ensuring that Indigenous voices are not just included but are integral to the narrative. Join us to explore how we can collectively work towards a more equitable and just outdoor recreation landscape.
How to Engage with Rural Landowners
Trail Talk
10:30 - 11:30 am
Ron Bentch, Missouri State Parks
How to effectively engage with rural landowners adjacent to trails to creating long-lasting relationships. For public agencies or non-profit organizations, building a relationship with rural landowners is key to the long-term success of any rural trail project.
Bringing Together Generations of Stewardship & Advocacy
Trail Talk
10:30 - 11:30 am
Renee Griswold, NICA Wisconsin Interscholastic Cycling League
Mike Seiler, NICA Wisconsin Interscholastic Cycling League
This conversation highlights the shared passion for building and maintaining recreational trails that connects highly experienced and novice generations of trail stewards. Through guided, balanced, round table conversations, explore how these efforts can foster a sense of community, preserve natural spaces, and promote healthy outdoor lifestyles. Through inspiring stories and actionable strategies, this conversation will emphasize the importance of collaboration, mentorship, and mutual respect among generations.
Key topics include the legacy of trail building by seasoned advocates, whose expertise and commitment have laid the groundwork for today’s networks, and the strength and new perspectives brought by up and coming generations, who often prioritize sustainability, technology, and inclusivity in their approach. By combining these strengths, communities can ensure trails are accessible, well-maintained, and relevant to diverse user groups.
Discussion around successful multigenerational projects, where seasoned volunteers mentor rising enthusiasts, and new participants bring energy and innovative ideas to the table will be highlighted. It concludes with practical advice on creating intergenerational partnerships, such as organizing workdays, sharing stories, and using social media to amplify advocacy. Ultimately, the session inspires attendees to view trail building as a lifelong endeavor that thrives when generations work together to connect people with nature and strengthen their communities.
Creating a TrailNation: Funding Advocacy
Concurrent Session
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Eric Oberg, Rails to Trails Conservancy
Erica Briggs, Rails to Trails Conservancy
Willie Karidis, Rails to Trails Conservancy
Public funding is critical to the development of trails and active transportation networks, but threats to funding are ever present. In this session, national and state advocacy organizations will share effective strategies they’ve used to build the case for new funding, ensure authorized funding is utilized, and protect funds at risk.
Complete Networks with Trails: Federal Transportation Funds
Concurrent Session
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Cheryl Housley, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Jodi Bellefeuille, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
This presentation describes how Federal surface transportation funding programs and research help States and communities integrate transportation and recreation infrastructure to develop safe, accessible, equitable, and comfortable networks to promote goals for safety, economic strength, equity, and climate sustainability. The presentation will focus on updates in legislation, policy, and research. It will include Federal and State agency presentations.
Shaping a water trail: The Great Pinery Heritage Waterway
Concurrent Session
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Bill Bertram, Wausau & Marathon County Parks Foundation
Cassie Mordini, Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation
Christopher Morgan, National Park Service
The Great Pinery Heritage Waterway is a new water trail in northcentral Wisconsin, winding within the upper Wisconsin River through wild and urban stretches alike. This session will tell the story of developing and branding the water trail, including lessons learned on: working across jurisdictions, the importance of messaging for trip planning and safety, and the value of amenities at landings and providing a consistent user experience. This talk will also touch on topics like partnering with local businesses, the use of location data to estimate visitor usage, and pursuing National Water Trail status from the National Park Service.
The Economic Benefits of Mountain Biking
Concurrent Session
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Jennifer Clinton, Trust for Public Land
Mary Monroe Brown, International Mountain Bicycling Association
Communities that invest in natural surface trail networks for mountain biking can expect tangible economic benefits, including increased tourism, new business formation or expansion, and increased spending from new residents attracted to tails and easy access to the outdoors. Outdoor recreation related spending has downstream effects on a community’s economic condition as well, generating sales and lodging taxes and business and employment opportunities in the community.
Trust for Public Land (TPL) will present the findings from a new literature review conducted in collaboration with the International Mountain Biking Association to better understand the economic benefits of mountain biking tourism in the U.S. This session will also identify potential challenges that rural communities face when growing their outdoor recreation economy (such as resident-visitor conflicts and potential infrastructure impacts) and suggests considerations and resources to mitigate them.
Trail Network Planning in Remote Areas
Concurrent Session
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Michel Blais, Parks Canada
Have you ever dreamed of creating a trail network on a blank canvas? Envision entering pristine, undeveloped wilderness—no roads, no utilities, no human-made structures. Now imagine designing a scientifically informed trail network that harmonizes outdoor exploration with ecological preservation.
Whether you're a trail planner, environmental advocate, or adventurer, this presentation will offer you an immersive look into the science of trail planning in the north, where there’s no infrastructure and nature reigns supreme.
Stonework for Trails
Concurrent Session
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Willie Bittner , Great Lakes Trailbuilders LLC
Erin Amadon , Town 4 Trails
Stonework is not for everyone, but for those with patience, attention to detail, a hard work ethic, and a general love for puzzles, stonework can be one of the most rewarding forms of trail work. Explore, through a slide show presentation, the various stone structures which can be used in trail construction. This session will further explore the ideal rock size and shapes for structures, safe transportation methods, and construction techniques for stone structures.
Indiana’s Monon South Trail: A Partnership Success Story
Concurrent Session
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Ron L. Taylor, FASLA, Taylor Siefker Williams Design Group
Jeff Quyle, Radius Indiana
Drew Storey, Clark Dietz Inc.
The Monon South Trail in southern Indiana is a story about impactful partnerships and collaboration in the conversion of this nearly 60 mile rail-trail. In 2021, the Indiana Department of the Natural Resources (IDNR) and Radius Indiana, an eight-county regional non-profit economic development agency, collaborated to purchase the former Monon Railroad route from Mitchell to New Albany, Indiana and convert it to what will become Indiana’s longest rail-trail. Encompassing eight communities across southern Indiana the Monon South project seeks to connect towns, landscapes, populations, recreation facilities, and vistas across the five county that have been negatively impacted by the Monon Rail Corridor. With $30 million in seed money from the IDNR’s Next Level Trails program, Radius Indiana began a creative program approach and community outreach program that has resulted in going from initial purchase to the first constructed segments in just three years. This panel discussion will explore how strategic and creative partnerships helped to secure the former rail line, engage communities in the process from the start, build community support for the trail, establish oversight for the trail, and develop an overall design program that allowed multiple design firms to concurrently design and construct the trail with a unified character.
Resilient and Sustainable Trail Infrastructure
Concurrent Session
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Britt Storck, Alta Planning + Design
Kimberly Williams, Alta Planning + Design
Lucy Crown, City of Asheville, NC
As trail designers and builders, we are responsible for championing sustainable solutions. How can we go above and beyond the status quo? Trails, due to their linear nature, provide opportunities for high impact outcomes that can have positive effects on climate change. This includes integrating materials alternatives, sourcing resilient products properly and using low impact construction methods.
Using the Atlanta Beltline Westside Trail as a case study, learn how to apply best practices for solutions to reduce emissions and store carbon on sites. Westside Trail was designed with resiliency as a priority. The design team explored an ambitious path to a carbon positive result. Hear about some lessons learned, tools used to inform decision making, and approaches used for a high-profile project with resiliency goals.
Supplementary to the case study will be a discussion on how design resilience withstands climate change. Asheville, North Carolina – a community whose infrastructure was severely impacted by Hurricane Helene – experienced historic flooding that is being described as a 1,000-30,000-year storm. Much of their trail system withstood flooding and provided essential infrastructure when many roadways were washed away. Discuss how and why, and what approaches to use when designing resilient trails in increasingly harsh conditions.
How to Make the Trail Industry More Welcoming for Women
Concurrent Session
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Erin Amadon, Town 4 Trail Services
Mariah Keagy, Sinuosity
Dawn Packard, Blue Sky Trails
Aaryn Kay, Professional TrailBuilders Association
We will hear from female leaders in the trail industry on their personal experiences and industry-wide trends identified in the 2022, 2023, and 2024 women in trailbuilding gatherings at past conferences. PTBA will then share two 2025 initiatives to make the trail industry more welcoming to women, as well as a summary of broader work towards professionalizing the industry and amplifying awareness as a key strategy towards a robust and diverse trail industry workforce. This session will conclude with a 10 minute Q&A.
Improving Equitable Access Through Innovation
Trail Talk
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Alison Agresta, The Nature Conservancy
This trail talk will feature a discussion of innovative ways in which to increase access in nature with a member of The Nature Conservancy in New York's Equitable Access team. From increasing visitor access to preserves and parks and applying best practices when building a trail to collaborating with partner organizations and utilizing new technologies, attendees will get a chance to share the struggles and successes of increasing equitable access across their lands while learning about the various approaches taken by The Nature Conservancy in New York.
Trail Systems as Economic Drivers
Concurrent Session
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Nathan Reigner (Pennsylvania Office of Outdoor Recreation)
Jackie Dagger (Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative)
Tara McKee (Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation)
Brad Garmon (Michigan Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry)
Chris Perkins, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable
Andy Williamson, West Virginia University
From backcountry single track to urban greenways, trail systems are more than just recreational assets—they're powerful economic engines for communities. This session brings together directors from state offices of outdoor recreation to explore how strategic trail development, investment, and stewardship have the potential to catalyze economic growth across the country.
Panelists will share real-world examples of how trails can boost local economies through tourism, small business development, public health savings, and increased property values. Attendees will gain insights into best practices, funding mechanisms, and policy strategies that support trail-based economic development, as well as hear about challenges and opportunities facing states as they expand and maintain these critical outdoor assets.
Stonework for Trails
Concurrent Session
3:00 - 4:00 pm
Willie Bittner , Great Lakes Trailbuilders LLC
Erin Amadon , Town 4 Trails
Stonework is not for everyone, but for those with patience, attention to detail, a hard work ethic, and a general love for puzzles, stonework can be one of the most rewarding forms of trail work. Explore, through a slide show presentation, the various stone structures which can be used in trail construction. This session will further explore the ideal rock size and shapes for structures, safe transportation methods, and construction techniques for stone structures.
Creating a TrailNation: Inclusive Marketing
Concurrent Session
3:00 - 4:00 pm
Eric Oberg, Rails to Trails COnservancy
Erica Briggs, Rails to Trails Conservancy
Willie Karidis, Rails to Trails Conservancy
Trail networks can create new connections between people and places, promising quality of life for everyone they serve—yet not everyone feels welcome in these spaces. Together, we’ll explore the fundamentals of an inclusive marketing strategy and case studies in `, reflecting the culture and community of a place.
Distilling Best Management Practices for Trail Stewards
Concurrent Session
3:00 - 4:00 pm
Nick Bennette, The Vermont Mountain Bike Association
Mariah Keagy, Sinuosity Flowing Trails
While there are many handbooks that advise trail practitioners on how to plan, design, build, maintain, and manage trails, the absence of a distilled set of Best Management Practices for mountain bike and multipurpose trails has made it challenge for trail stewardship organizations to standardize expectations for volunteer and professional trail builder activities, assess trail quality, and communicate a high standard for stewardship with stakeholders and public agencies. The presenters will summarize the motivation and goals for a project to establish a set of distilled BMPs, review the process for aggregating and consolidating existing BMPs across available local, regional, national and international resources, and share the current draft lists as well as the supporting tools they have developed. After sharing the current plan for further refinement and development of additional resources, the presenters will then open the discussion to solicit input from attendees on the best path forward, maximizing the utility of these tools, expanding the effort to other regions, and opportunities to collaborate with other interested parties to provide new resources for all trail stewardship organizations.
Slow travel – good for people and planet: BIPOC perspectives
Concurrent Session
3:00 - 4:00 pm
Heidi Beierle, Heidi Beierle Creative | Enroute Transport
Kelsey Long, We Run Long | Rising Hearts
Whitney Washington, Recapturing Life
Slow travel on trails is good for people and good for the planet. Join this interview-style panel facilitated by Heidi Beierle, who pedaled solo cross-country along the TransAmerica Trail. The panel features three women with unique career and life paths who show that anyone can slow travel anytime from anywhere. Trails create opportunities for people of varying abilities and comfort levels to engage with the outdoors in transformative ways without having to travel far from home (although they might). Transportation and recreation on trails support mental and physical health, environmental health, community vitality, and tourism opportunities.
Learn from trail-runner Kelsey Long how being an influencer leads to more opportunities for Indigenous people to participate in outdoor recreation. Long-distance cyclist and adventure film-maker Whitney Washington pedaled the Great American Rail Trail during the pandemic and completed a 2024 pedaling exploration in South Korea on the 4 Rivers Trail. Adaptive cyclist Kristin Weiss is new to three-wheeled pedaling and building a chapter of Spokes Fighting Strokes to help stroke survivors get their life back by regaining strength and ability, hope and freedom through adaptive cycling.
Trails as the Third Space
Concurrent Session
3:00 - 4:00 pm
Caitlin Early, TART Trails
Dana Pflughoeft, TART Trails
Join us for an engaging exploration of how public art transforms trails into vibrant "third spaces"—social environments that foster community interaction, creativity, and connection to nature. This presentation will delve into the concept of the third space, highlighting its role as a place for gathering, interaction, and cultural expression outside of home and work.
We will examine various trailside public art installations that embody this concept, discussing their artistic significance, thematic elements, and the ways they enhance the user experience. Through case studies and visual examples, participants will discover how these artworks invite reflection, provoke conversation, and build community identity.
Connecting South Chattanooga - Planning, Designing, and Developing Urban Trails with Neighbors
Concurrent Session
3:00 - 4:00 pm
David Johnson, Trust for Public Land
Daniela Peterson, Trust for Public Land
Maria Noel, South Chattanooga Community Association
Trust for Public Land has been working with the neighborhoods of South Chattanooga for over 10 years to imagine and plan how trails can connect neighbors to economic and cultural opportunities, which they've felt separated from for decades. This work has been supported through effective partnerships with existing organizations, and small-scale investments across multiple neighborhoods.
Modern Trail Solutions: A Design Assessment Tool for Trails
Concurrent Session
3:00 - 4:00 pm
Claire Polfus, Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation
Lauren Pyle, Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation
With limited funding and resources, how do we evaluate landscape-scale risks to prioritize trail projects? How can we encourage trail professionals to look beyond current conditions to think critically about potential future impacts for their trails? How can we help trail managers analyze maintenance requirements for their project designs? Two summers of catastrophic flooding in Vermont forced the recreation community to grapple with these questions. In response, we have developed a new tool to help us answer them.
This session will provide an overview of the Vermont Department of Forest, Parks and Recreation’s Design Assessment Tool for Trails, including the interdisciplinary and collaborative process we used to develop the form. We’ll share lessons learned from our pilot testing, when we used this tool as a part of this year’s Recreation Trails Program (RTP) grant cycle to help applicants build stronger proposals and to help our review committee make more intentional decisions for project selection. Finally, we’ll trial the tool and brainstorm ways this tool or process can be adapted to evaluate design considerations for trails in your area.
Partnering for Grants Greatness - Funding Innovations
Concurrent Session
3:00 - 4:00 pm
John Devine, Go Georgia (formerly Georgia Bikes)
Laura Cohen, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
More funding is currently available for active transportation and recreation infrastructure than at any point in history, yet communities consistently cite lack of capacity as a major roadblock to understanding, applying for, and administering grants. This compounds in underserved communities, where resources such as matching dollars, planning and grant-writing expertise, and familiarity with opportunities are typically scarcer than they are elsewhere.
Our discussion begins with an overview of two existing technical assistance programs: the established Active Transportation Resource Center in California and the nascent Grants Assistance Program in Georgia. We cover the basics of both programs, including formative history, operational practices, services, and focus on underserved communities through Justice 40, the Thriving Communities Program, etc. We also provide an overview of existing federal funding programs, including an opportunity to use these dollars to set up a similar technical assistance program in your state.
We then move on to a deep dive into how to set up similar programs in other states, including best practices, successes and challenges, and lessons learned from California and Georgia. We'll engage the audience with questions on existing conditions in their own states, common hurdles to fulfilling local needs, and proven recipes for a winning approach.
Connecting Communities Through the Industrial Heartland Trails Coalition: Clarksburg’s Role in the Parkersburg to Pittsburgh Connection"
Concurrent Session
3:00 - 4:00 pm
Tiffany Fell, City of Clarksburg
Dr. Shana Nicholson, City of Clarksburg
The Industrial Heartland Trails Coalition (IHTC) is a multi-state initiative connecting urban and rural communities through a network of multi-use trails. This presentation focuses on Clarksburg’s role in the Parkersburg to Pittsburgh connection, highlighting its impact on regional economic growth, community engagement, and sustainable outdoor recreation. By collaborating with local, state, and federal governments, along with private stakeholders, Clarksburg leverages trail systems to enhance connectivity, boost tourism, and revitalize local economies.
Red Lining, Invasive Species, and Urban Trails
Trail Talk
3:00 - 4:00 pm
Stacy Bare, Friends of Grand Rapids Parks
Grand Rapids has a growing mountain bike scene with few opportunities for easy accessible dirt trails in town. Three parks in historically redlined neighborhoods, and one immediately adjacent to a redlined neighborhood created overlooked, under developed spaces that have also become havens for invasive species. Working together with the neighboring communities, conservation advocates, and trail advocates, we're creating urban riding, trail running, and hiking opportunities for beginner, intermediate, and even advanced trails while also addressing invasive species control and early detection.
Pressure Treated Wood for Trail Structures-Eastern Edition
Trail Talk
3:00 - 4:00 pm
Robert Fina, Fina Trails LLC
Building trails structures with wood is a time honored tradition. The use of pressure treated wood increases the sustainability of the structure, particularly in warmer climates. The presentation will cover:
• Types of wood that can be treated
• Types of wood treatment, and how to select which type of wood treatment for the project.
• Hardware compatible with the treatment method
• Advantages if prefabrication of components
• Advantages and disadvantages of surfaces lumber, rough cut lumber, large dimension timbers
• Wood weight, wet and dry
• Field treatment
• UV light
• Waste management and personal safety
Ask a Trailbuilder: Machines and Attachments
Trail Talk
3:00 - 4:00 pm
PTBA Member Panel
Mechanized trailbuilding has revolutionized the trail industry over the last 25 years. From specialized dozers to mini-excavators to crawler carriers, the advantages of small earthmovers include faster rates of production and the ability to sculpt a more consistent trail tread. Bring your questions about mechanized equipment to this roundtable discussion that will be fueled by attendee questions.
Higher Education Roundtable
3:00 - 4:00 pm
Jay Post, Arkansas Tech
Jeremy Poore, McDowell Technical Community College
Andy Williamson, WVU
Women’s Gathering
Through informal discussions that ranged from on the ground to big picture societal topics, we talked about strategies to support our current female workforce and engage more women in our industry.
Thursday, 4/17
Moab Trail Ambassador Program: Educating thousands of visitors
Concurrent Session
9:00- 10:00 am
Anna Sprout, Grand County Active Transportation and Trails
Maddie Logowitz, Grand County Active Transportation and Trails
The Moab Trail Ambassador Program is the first Leave No Trace Gold Standard program in the country and the first designation in Utah. This program focuses on educating thousands of trail users on responsible recreation practices unique to the Moab desert. This presentation outlines the partnerships that make this program possible, the challenges that prompted the creation of the program, a program overview and measures of success.
1. Development of an on-trail education program that educates thousands of visitors
2. Creation of unique programming that incentives learning responsible trail ethics
3. Collaboration and partnerships that led to the creation of an education program
Science on the Trails: Interdisciplinary Research on the Socio-ecological Characteristics of Urban Greenspaces
Concurrent Session
9:00- 10:00 am
Shannon McCarragher, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
DeAnna Beasley, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
The Urban Greenway Research Collaborative (UGRC) is a partnership between researchers at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC). We conduct research related to the environmental and social impacts of greenways in urban settings with the overall goal of helping cities develop and sustain their greenspaces in an ecologically resilient and socially equitable manner. Our session is two-fold. First, we will present on our Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) summer program that aims to train students on how to assess the complex socio-ecological interactions of urban greenspaces. We will illustrate how we use an interdisciplinary framework that connects students with community organizations and stakeholders to increase awareness about career pathways in urban ecology, planning, policy, and management. We will also discuss how we train the students to conduct field research on microclimate, usage patterns, and ecological community structure associated with urban greenways. Second, we will facilitate a collaborative topic-driven discussion exploring how the science of Urban Ecology and Biogeography can better serve trail users and practitioners.
Aruba MTB: One Happy Trail, One Happy Island
Concurrent Session
9:00- 10:00 am
Tony Boone, Tony Boone Trails
Jon Altschuld, Chinook Landscape Architecture
Take a deep dive into trail planning, design, and construction on a desert island in the Caribbean with Tony Boone and Jon Altschuld. Learn how they tackled the political and natural hurdles to get almost 50 kms of bike optimized trail built in under 2 years. This story includes paradise beaches, hell-like thorns and heat, budgets tied to political elections, and hours of logistics for simply getting drone batteries in and out of the country.Creative trail flagging techniques, using GIS in the field, trail design in challenging environments.
Driftless Trail: A New Public-Access Trail on Private Lands
Concurrent Session
9:00- 10:00 am
Barb Barzen, Driftless Land Conservancy
Jen Filipiak, Driftless Land Conservancy
The Driftless Area Land Conservancy, a Wisconsin land trust, is ten years into developing a 50-mile public-access trail on mostly private lands in a region that is 97% privately owned. The Driftless Trail will increase opportunities for people to connect with nature and the Driftless landscape while creating a substantial corridor of protected and managed natural and agricultural lands in an area of high conservation value. In 2016 and 2017, the Conservancy worked with the National Park Service to develop and publicize a concept plan. Since then, they have partnered with landowners, other nonprofits, volunteers, professional trail builders, funders, and an advisory team to get the first 8 miles of trail developed. After telling the story of the Driftless Trail, including past and future partnerships, Conservancy staff will describe how the organization plans to use trails as a community-based land conservation strategy going forward, on “ambassador properties” the organization owns. The audience will learn about:1. Unique opportunities and challenges that come with placing public-access trails on private lands.2. The process of going from developing a concept to engaging partners to growing capacity as a through-hike trail evolves. 3. Organizational capacity required to develop and maintain a public-access trail on private lands. 4. Starting and evolving a volunteer network for a new trail, for construction and maintenance, incorporating professional trail builders. 5. Using a through-hike trail as a land conservation strategy.
Community Driven: The Pivotal Role of Community Engagement in Trail Development while using ESRI Story Maps to Support the Process
Concurrent Session
9:00- 10:00 am
Mike Reypak, Kayperworks
This presentation will delve into the dynamic world of trail development and the pivotal role community engagement plays. With an emphasis on community wide trail networks, the best practices explored in this session will better equip professionals and community members toward creating vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable communities through trail development. As a case study, presenters will highlight community engagement touchpoints and how a robust Story Map helped to develop a Strategic Trails Plan for Marquette County, MI over the past two years.Participants will be able to identify benefits of engaging multiple stakeholdersAttendees will be able to name 3 benefits of utilizing ESRI Story Maps for engagementAttendees will be able to identify 3 strategies for inviting others into the trail vision.
Trails for EveryBODY: a Model for Growing aMTB Accessibility
Concurrent Session
9:00- 10:00 am
Jeff Alexander, VT Adaptive Ski and Sports
Nicke Bennette, VMBA
Greg Durso, Kelly Brush Foundation
While Vermont is home to over 1200 miles of mountain bike trails, the extent to which these trails are accessible for adaptive riders is largely unknown. Over the past few years, Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports (VASS), the Vermont Mountain Bike Association (VMBA), and the Kelly Brush Foundation (KBF) developed and scaled an Adaptive Assessment Program to rapidly scale the quantity and quality of trails for aMTB use across Vermont. This effort included the creation and implementation of an adaptive trail assessment protocol, reporting tools to communicate necessary upgrades to make trails adaptive-friendly, and communication approaches to ensure aMTB riders know where they can ride. Thanks in large part to this program, over 100 miles of mountain bike trails in Vermont are now designated and clearly communicated as ‘adaptive-friendly.’In this presentation, leaders from VASS and VMBA will walk through the rationale for pursuing broader aMTB access, the process of developing their program and collaboration, specific approaches to optimizing riding experiences for everyBODY, and guidance for how other trail organizations and adaptive sports advocates can pursue similar outcomes in their communities. In opening up more adaptive opportunities, Vermont is increasing accessible tourism and accelerating the development of adaptive athletes.Participants will:- Learn the rationale for supporting and pursuing great adaptive MTB accessibility- Learn how to develop and maintain effective partnerships to pursue accessibility- See how to design, develop, and implement an Adaptive Assessment & Upgrade program- Become familiar with specific trail-based adaptive upgrades- Understand what making a trail ‘aMTB-friendly’ means for other trail users- Identify resources for trail users to better equip themselves for their experiences- Understand the aMTB experience assessment from arrival to departure.
Brand GPT: Harnessing the Power of AI for Marketing
Concurrent Session
9:00- 10:00 am
Miles Ramsay, 52Eighty Creative
Jess Mengel, 52Eighty Creative
Branding and marketing is a big world with a lot of nuance. Whether it's crafting an email drip campaign, brainstorming social media ideas for better interaction, writing copy for your website, or analysis of your brand or promotional materials, there's a lot to it and most of us aren't sure where to turn to or where to start. In this session, we will dive into powerful AI writing and analytic tools and specifically look at examples of how leveraging ChatGPT can help you create efficiencies and gain valuable marketing insights.1) Learn about different AI writing tools and their strengths/weaknesses 2) Gain understanding into different areas that AI can help with marketing analysis and creating deliverables 3) Learn how to prompt AI to achieve more unique ideas and create more tailored outputs.
Will Generational Changes in Donor, Member, and Volunteer Behavior Undermine A Golden Age for Trail Building?
Concurrent Session
9:00- 10:00 am
Jeffrey J. Cain, Ph.D., Lemolo Bay Advisors
20 million US households have stopped giving to nonprofit organizations. Volunteerism is in decline. People aren’t joining organizations like they used to. And trust in institutions, including philanthropic and nonprofit organizations, is reaching new lows. A dramatic shift is underway in how Americans give, volunteer, and participate in civil society organizations. What impact will generational change in giving, gathering, and volunteering habits have on trails organizations? How should trails organizations respond to these changes? How can trail groups build better relationships with new generations that give, join, and volunteer differently than older cohorts? The focus of this sessions is on building organizational resiliency in the face of America’s changing civil society landscape.1. Identify and understand the changes taking place in how Americans give, volunteer, and join the causes they care about. 2. Understand how these changes impact trails organizations. 3. Develop strategies for institutional resiliency and building better member, donor, and volunteer relationships in light of America’s changing civil society landscape.
Using Trail Data to Inform Statewide Recreation Priorities
Concurrent Session
9:00- 10:00 am
Brett Rannow, CRO Planning & Design
Drew Pollak-Bruce, CRO Planning & Design
Dawn Collins, Arizona State Parks and Trails
What does a large-scale trail inventory process look like, and how are trails prioritized in statewide planning and resource allocation? In this presentation, Brett Rannow and Drew Pollak-Bruce from CRO Planning & Design and Dawn Collins from Arizona State Parks & Trails will share their experiences in compiling large-scale trail data and how outreach data related to trails inform a Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan’s (SCORP) long-range priorities. Drew & Brett will overview how CRO Planning & Design worked through the process of ‘untangling’ multiple statewide GIS trail datasets to create a singular, robust, and informative trail layer in Vermont and performed a collaborative trail inventorying process in Alabama. They'll showcase some of the data that were obtained from the process and how the State of Vermont plans to continually refine their dataset via a collaborative ‘living’ trail layer on ArcGIS Online. Dawn will also share her experiences from Arizona's SCORP process, detailing how outreach data received from the public were utilized to inform its statewide planning process. Both will overview lessons learned from these processes and the power of utilizing multiple forms of data to advocate for trail development, maintenance, and funding.1. Attendees will learn about statewide trail data inventory processes performed for Vermont and Alabama's Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plans2. Attendees will learn how outreach efforts were used in Arizona to obtain statewide data about public perceptions, needs, and priorities related to trails3. Attendees will learn how multi-pronged data related to trails can inform planning efforts and identify recreational gaps across a state.
Trekking Trail Risk Assessment for Sustainable Trail Management in Mountains
Concurrent Session
9:00- 10:00 am
Kabindra Bhatta, Nepal Tourism Board
Trekking tourism being the major attributes of the Mountain economy and community with majority of tourism engagement and contributes to maximum days of stay of tourist, policy makers should prioritize in the aspects of Trekking Trail Risk assessment and Safety. Policy recommendation based on Policy Gap Assessment can suggest the approach of Trekking and Mountaineering Trail Risk Assessment. Further, modality of sustainable land use planning and trail modality can emphasize the need of joint effort for the preparedness on glacier and mountain hazard to maintain the safety of entire mountain tourism community. Identification of Risk Prone Area, Risk Mapping and Awareness (Local level/Guides/Tourist), Systematic Rescue Operation in coordination with Local Government, Establishment of Trekkers Tracking System, Trail Auditing and Signage System are the basic approaches of the trekking trail risk assessment and safety. Similarly, Trail infrastructure enhancement through Suspension Bridge, Cantilevers Bridge, Tunnel and Shed Way Construction, provisioning alternative Trail, application of bioengineering technique for slope stability, Early Warning System Installment and Weather Station and Communication Channeling (application based) could the intervention to enhance the sustainable infrastructure for trail management.The major learning objectives are as follows: 1. To explore the impacts of anthropogenic and natural hazards in the mountain trekking trail 2.To assess the trekking trail risk assessment through risk mapping through multi-stakeholders’ engagement of the mountain community3. To suggest the basic approach of sustainable trail infrastructure enhancement and management
Working Towards a Binational Great Lakes Waterfront Trail
Trail Talk
9:00- 10:00 am
Dr. John Hartig, Great Lakes Way Advisory Committee
Marlaine Koehler, Great Lakes Waterfront Trail
Imagine a binational recreation trail along the largest chain of freshwater lakes in the world, connecting nations and communities along spectacular scenery. By linking existing trail networks, the U.S. Great Lakes states are exploring developing a U.S. Great Lakes Waterfront Trail to connect to Canada’s existing Great Lakes Waterfront Trail. The roundtable discussion would explore how the existing Great Lakes Waterfront Trail in Canada was established as well as the ongoing collaborative effort between the eight Great Lakes states to develop a companion trail in the United States.
With input from the eight Great Lakes states, the U.S. Great Lakes Waterfront Trail would be built on the foundation of existing trails and allow partners to identify gaps to fill over time and built on the following vision: All residents and visitors of the eight Great Lakes states are connected to and benefit from world-class freshwater, wildlife, recreation, and history through the U.S. Great Lakes Waterfront Trail.
This initiative is being coordinated by The Council of State Governments, Midwestern Office, representatives of the eight Great Lakes states, nongovernmental organizations, and the National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program, in close consultation with the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail in Canada.
Frog Bay Tribal National Park: The first in the U.S.
Concurrent Session
10:30 - 11:30 am
Ashley Huinker, Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
In 2012, the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa established the first tribal national park in the United States, Frog Bay Tribal National Park (FBTNP). This session will tell the history of the park, from rematriating the land that became the park, to designation of the park and the development of its trail network, to plans for its future. Two land reacquisitions formed the 300-acre area that comprises FBTNP (open to the public) and the Frog Creek Conservation Management Area (accessible only to tribal members). This protected area complex permanently protects a large tract of at-risk boreal forest, the lower estuary and mouth of Frog Creek, and restored former reservation lands back to tribal ownership. We will also discuss the installation of a large bridge across a ravine at the trailhead, rerouting trails after major storms, and the installation of interpretive signage identifying plants and animals in Ojibwemowin. Finally, we will discuss Red Cliff’s partnership with the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance program, exploring the addition of boardwalks in wet areas along the trail network.
Coalition Building in North Carolina to Create Trail Resources for All
Concurrent Session
10:30 - 11:30 am
Beth Heile, Great Trails State Coalition
Smith Raynor, North Carolina State Parks
Starting with a strategically planned 2023 NC Year of the Trail campaign that engaged millions of people, North Carolina has dramatically increased state spending on trails to more than $60 million in state funding for all types of trails including initiating a the $30M (and growing) Complete the Trail Fund and a $25 million statewide Great Trails State Grant Program.
North Carolina State Parks and the Great Trails State Coalition will share strategies implemented and lessons learned that have helped achieve that funding and other successes by working with dedicated volunteers, nonprofits, rural towns needing revitalization, industry partners, lobbyists, and supportive legislators.
Public-private partnerships are the key to trail planning, development, advocacy, and promotion in the Great Trails State. Legislation enables participation by state agencies, protection of landowners hosting trails, policies friendly to trail building and a vehicle for funding. However, the Great Trails State Coalition has the flexibility that the state agencies lack.
Formed in 2020, the North Carolina Great Trails State Coalition is made up of more than 100 nonprofit, local government and industry members and is grounded in a vision to bring the benefits of trails to all 100 NC counties through sustainable trail funding and other resources. NC State Parks is responsible for the completely managing over 1000 miles of trails within our state parks; planning and establishing the fourteen state trails; and managing state funded park and trail grants.
If you Build a Bike Park they will come, with shovels!
Concurrent Session
10:30 - 11:30 am
Ray Winn, Arapahoe County Open Spaces
Roger Harvey, Arapahoe County Open Spaces
Shea Ferrell, FlowRide Concepts
In October 2024 we opened the Dove Valley Bike Park. We hired Professional Trail Builder Shea Farrell from FlowRide Concepts to design and build the 5-acre bike park and asphalt pump track. This was the first bike park in our system and our maintenance staff was terrified of the maintenance commitment that the park would entail. We do not have the staffing support for a full-time staff member to maintain the park. So, we asked FlowRide Concepts to build us something that would require less maintenance. Shea and his team knocked it out of the park with low maintenance features in precise areas. Our staff was overwhelmed with inquiries about helping maintain the park and we have had leaders in our community step up to organize weekly maintenance dig nights. This has been a special collaboration between the County and the community where we provide the tools and hoses, and the community provides an extensive amount of manual labor on a weekly basis.
The design of the bike park is also key in decreasing maintenance. Shea brilliantly designed the park to accommodate low maintenance prefabricated features precisely at the right points while utilizing a special dirt mix that resists displacement.
Serving a Changing Audience: Modernizing Old Trail Networks with Crowdsourced Data
Concurrent Session
10:30 - 11:30 am
Peter Dolan, New York-New Jersey Trail Conference
Pitt Grewe, AllTrails
Trail visitation numbers, user expectations, and access to technology have changed dramatically over the past half-century. In many areas, only one thing remains unchanged – the marked routes that people are following. How can we tell when these old trail networks aren’t meeting the needs of modern visitors, and where do we get the necessary data to make well-informed changes? This presentation shares real-world case studies of natural-surface trail networks which were dramatically reconfigured to better meet the needs of modern visitors. Simply by changing route colors and building strategic new connectors, these improvements have resulted in improved visitor experiences and a reduction in lost person incidents. Staff from AllTrails will share how their platform’s Public Lands Portal is a powerful tool for identifying visitor desires and crowdsourced recommendations. In a field where collecting public input and objective data can be difficult or cost-prohibitive, the Public Lands Portal provides land managers with a powerful tool at no expense.
After walking through the projects described in this presentation and learning about new resources available on the Public Lands Portal, the audience will be ready to examine their own old trail networks and ensure they meet the needs of a new generation.
Leveraging History for All-Season Recreation with the American Birkebeiner
Concurrent Session
10:30 - 11:30 am
Jim Sokup American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation
Ben Popp, ABSF
The American Birkebeiner operates in Sawyer and Bayfield counties in Northwestern WI with an annual budget of approximately 5.5 million dollars. The budget is largely driven by registrations however, it is augmented by grant funding, partnerships, and donor gifts. The ABSF has created an endowment for future development and stability. The organization recently created multiple partnerships including funding assistance from Trek and One Track Mind for development of a gravity bike trail system.
The ABSF has a 50 year history that deeply resonates with our customer base and our ability to leverage the enthusiasm of those who participate, volunteer and spectate has become the backbone of our donor base. Our story of overcoming the adversity of a winter without snow in 2024 and successfully operating an event with over 13,000 participants some of which are the absolute best in the world has become proof we can overcome.
Safety Interpretation Signs-Warning signs may not be enough
Concurrent Session
10:30 - 11:30 am
Robert Kauffman, Frostburg State University & American Canoe Association
On May 21, 2011, two fatalities occurred in the hydraulic behind the Ford Dam on Hubbell Pond, as part of a water trail for canoes near the Village of Milford, Michigan. The dam was surrounded with barbed wire chain-link fences and posted with warning signs that read “Treacherous Water, Death or Severe Bodily Injury Is Likely, No Swimming, Wading or Trespassing.” With all these barriers and warning, why did two young canoeists decide to paddle up the backwash and touch the back of the dam? They didn’t understand and appreciate the dangers associated with low head dams. An interpretive sign next to the portage trail interpreting the drowning machine and the dangers of low head dams could tell the story of why low head dams are killers. This is why warning signs may not be enough. Complementing historic and natural interpretation, safety interpretation provides understanding and appreciation of the hazards and dangers. Safety interpretation provides an important niche in the risk management and safety fields and is directly related to trail signage. Several pitfalls and barnacles are discussed. The presentation uses case studies and examples of interpretive signage to illustrate Safety Interpretation.
Reducing Trail Conflicts & Enhancing Resource Protection
Concurrent Session
10:30 - 11:30 am
Curt Kruger, Trail Partners Foundation
Our Foundation’s goal is to provide a uniform message across the country designed to achieve a safe trail user experience while supporting resource protection. Over a decade of research shows that the approach we will describe works and should be adopted nationwide. Our program is currently in use in over a dozen areas across the USA, Canada and Australia. We will describe the root causes of trail conflict along with approaches to achieve the behavior change necessary to reduce those conflicts. We will explain why most current approaches at reducing conflict don’t work. We want to share what we have learned from over a decade of research, so others don ‘t have to reinvent the wheel. Resource protection and safety go hand and hand.
Engineering for Resilience – Recreational Restoration after a 1,000-year Flood
Concurrent Session
10:30 - 11:30 am
Raine Gardner, PE, MSA Professional Services, Inc. (MSA)
In August of 2018, the City of Middleton and surrounding areas received over 11 inches of rain in a 12-hour span, exceeding NOAA’s statistics for a 1,000-year event by almost 4 inches. Flooding of the Pheasant Branch Creek corridor caused significant damage to streambanks, pedestrian bridges, trail segments, and vegetation. City leaders knew they needed more than a simple act of restoration; they needed a new foundation for resilience.
This presentation explores the unique methodologies, engineering design solutions, and stormwater improvements used to meet the needs of a changing climate and fortify this beloved 1.7-mile urban oasis. The project required materials and methods more robust in nature including utilizing sophisticated HEC-RAS stormwater modeling tools for design, incorporating deep-driven helical pile systems to anchor new pedestrian bridge foundations, raising the elevation of structures to establish adequate freeboard distance for high-water conditions, and establishing critical accessibility improvements for safe, inclusive, multimodal use.
The $2.4M Pheasant Branch Creek Bridge and Restoration project was selected to receive a 2024 Engineering Excellence State Finalist Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Wisconsin.
Top 10 Trail Fails: Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
Concurrent Session
10:30 - 11:30 am
Scott Gordon, ContourLogic
It's smart to learn from one's own mistakes; yet genious is to learn from other's mistakes! Updated for 2025, this has been a popular session on past Trail Conferences. We'll identify several of the common mistakes and misconceptions that occur in the Planning, Design, Implementation, and Management of trail facilities. Better yet, we'll provide guidance on how to think like a Trail Pro to avoid these mistakes
The New Trail Dogs Docuseries - The Art, Heart, and Science of Trail Building
Trail Talk
10:30 - 11:30 am
Matthew Burnett, Super Genius
Bill Connell, Super Genius
We will talk about how the new docu-series Trail Dogs will impact the future of the industry and the producers will field questions about what it takes to make an episode.
Ask a Trailbuilder: Going Pro
Trail Talk
10:30 - 11:30 am
PTBA Member panel
Starting your own trail company is a huge decision - one with so many pros and a lot of work. Learn from current PTBA members about what they wish they had known when they started their business - from project management, contracting, marketing, HR, reporting, and so much more. If you are a new/aspiring company, bring your questions!