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2009 RTP Achievement Awards

Award-Winning Trail and Greenway Projects

 

The members of the Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT) have selected the winners of the "Annual Achievement Awards" in recognition of outstanding use of Recreational Trails Program (RTP) funds. The award winners were recognized at a special ceremony in Washington, D.C. on June 10, 2009 at the U.S. House of Representatives Rayburn House Office Building, during the annual celebration for Great Outdoors Week.

Learn more about the Recreational Trails Program

 

 

Highbridge Park Project (New York)

Environment and Wildlife Compatibility

• Sponsor/Partner: International Mountain Bicycling Association, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, Concerned Long Island Mountain Bikers, New York City Mountain Bike Association, Green Apple Corps
• Congressional District: Charles Rangel (D-15-NY)
• Senators: Charles Schumer (D) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D)

 

A 2005 RTP award was utilized to create bicycle trails at Highbridge Park in New York City, marking the first time that bicycles have been allowed in New York City parks since 1991. The project was completed in 2007. The standards recommended by the International Mountain Bicycling Association convinced the City's Department of Parks and Recreation that professionally designed mountain bike trails could be built and maintained in New York City parks.

Highbridge Park was chosen as it was seen as underused for recreation and had long been a draw for illegal activities. At the same time, the recreational needs of the neighborhood youth were being underserved, increasing their long-term health risks and the costs for the city. Concerned Long Island Mountain Bicyclists (CLIMB) decided to not only focus on mountain bike trails, but also on BMX facilities, to increase the community’s connectivity to the park.

The result has been a resounding success. Since the construction began on the trails, some 1200 hypodermic needles and truckloads of trash have been removed, neighborhood children have been enlisted as park caretakers, trail design has protected sensitive areas and work parties have removed invasive species.

 

Most of the trail work was done by the Green Apple Corps along with the many volunteers who made it all possible. Supervising the youth workers and volunteers was Michael Vitti, President of CLIMB. Green Apple Corps is a division of AmeriCorps that works in New York City parks exclusively.

The program has since expanded to several other New York City parks, with IMBA-affiliate club CLIMB opening trails in Cunningham Park in Queens, and IMBA-affiliate club NYCMTB (New York City Mountain Bike Association) partnering with NYARA (New York Adventure Racing Association) to open trails in Wolfe's Pond Park on Staten Island.

 

Contacts:

• Michael Vitti, International Mountain Bicycling Association, PO Box 7578, Boulder, CO 80306. Phone: 303-545-9011
• Dawson Smith, New York City Mountain Bike Association, PO Box 3801, NY, NY 10163 - E-mail: dawson@nycmtb.com
• Michael Vitti, Concerned Long Island Mountain Bikers - sick4surf@yahoo.com - www.CLIMBonline.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coalition for Recreational Trails:

The Coalition for Recreational Trails, a national organization representing the nation's major trail interests, has been working since 1992 to build awareness and understanding of the Recreational Trails Program, to support its implementation and to help insure that it receives adequate funding. The Annual Achievement Awards are part of the Coalition's ongoing effort to promote and celebrate this highly successful program, which has greatly enhanced the quantity and quality of trail experiences available to the public. For more information about CRT and its members, go to: www.funoutdoors.com/coalitions/crt.

 

Annual achievement awards presented by the Coalition for Recreational Trails:
2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000