filed under: community & partnership development
For the Benefit of All Trails We Must All Work Together
By recognizing the common goals that all trail user types share, and fighting for those goals together, it is possible to create a real and positive impact on the trails world.
An equestrian and a hiker do a "meet and greet" on the shared-use Metolius-Windigo Trail. Photo by Kim McCarrell
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In 2018 American Trails created the Trails Move People (TMP) coalition to bring together a diverse cross section of the organized trails community. Currently the coalition includes the following organizations:
Though each of the individual organizations have some of their own priorities, this coalition represents the shared goals that are important to all outdoor recreation users, rather they be hikers, cyclists, equestrians, snowmobilers, paddlers, or more. TMP uses collaboration, communication, and education to ensure that the benefits of trails are rightly considered by recreationists, industry, decision-makers, and the general public. We already know that outdoor recreation has a massive positive impact on our nation’s economy and that much of the impact is generated via trails.
American Trails will be holding a free webinar in partnership with the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC) on March 19th to delve further into building broad support for trails through amplifying the united strength of the trails community.
The member organizations of TMP represent millions of Americans who spend their time, money and energy to get out on trails for fun and to volunteer. TMP hopes to elevate the recognition of trails by developing funding and research resources so that everyone irrespective of geography, mode of recreation, socio-economic status, or experience will have access to more and better trail opportunities and in turn more fulfilling personal experiences.
Why is this important? As American Trails Executive Director Mike Passo said in his two-part series Breaking Down the Silos (part one and part two), we all “vested interest in preserving, maintaining, and strengthening the trails infrastructure of our country.” Passo went on to point out there are many things we can all agree on, including:
Put simply, our voices are stronger together than they are apart. When there is an equestrian trail in danger of being closed, rather than having only the equestrians fighting for that trail, if the hikers, cyclists, OHV users, and others amplified those voices they would be more likely to be heard. When an OHV trail is fighting for more funding, if all trail users joined that fight, that plea would be more likely to be heard. This is true for all trail user types, for all trails, and at all levels, whether it be a city town hall or the halls of congress.
Published March 10, 2020
A guide for anyone who wants to better understand trails planning, decision making, and trail project development. If you’re a trail enthusiast with big ideas, a trail advocate, a stewardship volunteer, or public agency staff person interfacing with local partners, this guide is for you.
This February and March, over 120 advocates virtually hiked the halls of Congress to call for action to protect and expand access for all to public lands and trails. These efforts, led by the Partnership for the National Trails System and American Hiking Society, developed a series of common messages and legislative priorities for the coming Federal fiscal year. We encourage all of our partners to download the Hike the Hill materials now to help build a common agenda for the entire trails community.
Trail Stewardship Partner Funding Available
Funding available for trail maintenance efforts on USFS lands.
PedNet is Making a Difference on the Ground in Missouri
American Trails contributor Josh Adams recently interviewed Lawrence Simonson, who serves as the Chief Strategy Officer of the PedNet Coalition, to talk pedestrian safety, projects and obstacles, and making a difference in Missouri.
