A Poster presentation
This poster session presentation summarizes the process of developing the City of Toronto's Natural Environment Trails Strategy and its outcomes.
by Mike Halferty, Natural Environment Specialist, City of Toronto - Urban Foresty Branch
| As Toronto grows and the population increases, the pressure from recreational use on our natural areas intensifies. As the fourth largest city in North America,Toronto boasts over 11,000 hectares of forested ravine area, which in turn contains an extensive network of single track dirt trail (over 200 km). Much of this is unregulated and unmanaged. Trail planning and maintenance helps to alleviate the damage caused by the daily wear and tear of various recreational uses. In order to protect the natural environment, ensure the long-term sustainability of our trails and encourage safe trail experiences, we developed our Natural Environment Trails Strategy (NETS). This award-winning strategy used city-wide trail mapping, trail user counts and extensive public consultation to create a document that guides planning, construction, maintenance and community engagement for natural environment trail projects. This poster will summarize the process of developing NETS and its outcomes. |
Sometimes All it Takes is One Volunteer
Stefis Demetropoulos of the Florida Forest Service tells the story of how one volunteer can make a difference.
Smithsonian Guidelines for Accessible Exhibition Design
Exhibitions are complex presentations that convey concepts, showcase objects, and excite the senses. However, as museums recognize the diversity within their audiences, they realize that exhibitions must do more: exhibitions must teach to different learning styles, respond to issues of cultural and gender equity, and offer multiple levels of information. The resulting changes in exhibitions have made these presentations more understandable, enjoyable, and connected to visitors’ lives.
California State Parks Accessibility Guidelines
The Accessibility Guidelines are intended as a reference manual and department policy on accessible design and shall be utilized in planning and implementing regular maintenance activities, construction projects, publications, exhibits, new programs, and special events. The guidelines are not a comprehensive set of requirements for all situations, but rather a summary of information from many sources which provide guidance for common uses in the State Park System. This document is an update to the 2009 edition.
Recreational Trail Program Funds Help Create Sign Language Program
Kartchner Caverns State Park provides tours that see over 150,000 people annually and the information that rangers provide on the tours is crucial to the experience. The Deaf and Hard of Hearing community has been missing out on a vital part of the experience, until now.
