Inviting the Community Back Into the Woods

Natural Trails in Urban Landscapes

This session endeavors to describe multiple projects that are currently bucking this trend- restoring natural systems, providing high quality recreation, and inviting communities back into the woods.

Speakers: Dr. Maura McCarthy, Executive Director, Friends Of Wissahickon; Ben Blitch, Owner, B4 Consulting and Construction; Kelly and Collins Bishop, Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew

Urbanization has taken a toll on natural landscapes. Subsequently, urbanites have lost their connection to these lands. The natural lands left in urban areas have often been heavily impacted in social and ecological manners, leaving them a blight rather than an amenity for the community. This session endeavors to describe multiple projects that are currently bucking this trend- restoring natural systems, providing high quality recreation, and inviting communities back into the woods. In providing recreation solutions in small, natural spaces and large urban parks, the trails community is uniting to challenge to the concrete jungle.

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