This award is given in recognition of successful efforts to influence public policy relating to trail planning, trail protection, trail development, or maintenance.
Linda Strong-Watson, Executive Director, Alberta TrailNet Society, accepting the award from American Trails Chair Bob Searns
Alberta TrailNet, Alberta’s provincial trail council, and Alberta Tourism are working with project partners to map all of the approved and authorized trails in the province.
The partnership for this mapping venture involves both provincial government and non-government organizations: Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Alberta TrailNet Society, Alberta Off-Highway Vehicle Association and Alberta Snowmobile Association.
This mapping partnership was created in response to user requests for trail information, to help identify approved trails and to help minimize impacts of unmanaged recreational access, to promote and support economic development and tourism, and to promote user awareness. This information will also assist in developing a provincial trail database that supports future land management activities and recreational access planning and design.
The maps inform users regarding which trails support various trail user interests and activities, and contain interpretive information on the region such as tourism points of interest, spots for potential wildlife viewings, other recreational activities and opportunities, and the history of the area. Two maps have been completed and five more are presently under development. The maps may be viewed at www.albertatrailnet.com.
Alberta TrailNet previously received the prestigious Alberta Tourism "Friends of Tourism" ALTO Award in October 2008 for the NE Alberta Trail Map. This was a pilot project for the Provincial Trail Map Project which will see the development of 16 regional maps featuring all approved trails in the province and the creation of a provincial trail database.
492 views • posted 01/16/2018
