the hills are alive… with the sound of volunteers lets build legendary trails karen benson, leed...
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The Hills Are Alive…With the Sound of Volunteers
Let’s Build Legendary TrailsKaren Benson, LEED AP BD+C, Business Development Director, Steele & Freeman, Inc. and a volunteerkarenbensonstudios@gmail.com
Learning Objectives• Describe the steps taken to develop trail systems with
government entities and volunteer groups as stakeholders• Build your volunteer base/ how volunteers can build,
support, and maintain community trails• (How to build “legendary” trails – S&S Trails)
Trails are not paved, not wide, not flat, not boring
Population Growth • 7M in NTX with 1M more every 6 years• 9.5M NTX Population in 2030; 13.3M in 2060• TX population 26.5M, doubles to 55m by 2050• So let’s get as many trails built now as possible
Need for RecreationNeed for Re-Creation
Health Issues
• Diverse user groups• Existing trails on US
Forest Service land have been developed over 25+ years
• User groups have very different needs
• Groups’ attitude can be somewhat hostile to each other • Trail Users Group (TUG)
formed
Case Study 1Bend, Oregon
• Snowmobile club grooms 300 miles of trails 3x per week• XC ski club grooms 25 miles of xc ski trails 2-3 times per week,
wanted to triple parking, increase trails, other• Snowshoe club shares Meissner area with XC ski club but maintains
separate set of trails, no grooming• COTA mt. bike club builds and maintains trail network of 200 miles –
PTBA/ IMBA standards-includes runners, walkers, hikers, downhill bike area
• Horse riders uses same trails systems but not allowed in all areas• Skijouring club grooms 10k of dog/ski trails• Tourists/visitors 2M visitor visits per year• Backcountry skiers wish all the above would go away• NEPA study required – 3 years/ input from community/grants• Long-range plan achieved by separating user groups• Each group had to give a little at the table - compromise
Long-range Development Plan: Unique recreation area project became a national USFS model
• User group Fort Worth Mountain Biker’s Association• No other user groups/clubs• FWMBA volunteers have built
and maintain legendary trails at Gateway and Sansom Parks• Trails shared with hikers,
fishers, sightseers, public
Case Study 2 Sansom Park, Fort Worth
• FWMBA volunteer trail work 12,000 hrs / $300,000• FWMBA trails are built to IMBA standards• COFW has let license agreement lapse• FWMBA cannot do trail maintenance • FWMBA cannot re-insure • FWMBA stakeholder with current long-range plan
adopted by COFW and CO Lake Worth• COFW has proceeded with engineering for next
phase and may disregard existing trails/alignments• COFW Parks Dept. states decisions are Parks Dept’s
Solution?
Sit everyone down at the table
Keep your eyes on the goal (Legendary Trails)Steering committee is the user groups (TUG)Lay ground rulesCharette(s)Refine designLong-range planBuild great trailsHave funBuild community
Bike shops / clubsRunning stores / clubsBoomers, senior centersYMCAFWMBA/DORBA Outdoor retailers REISports teamsStreams & ValleysCook Children’s Hospital
Where are the volunteers?
Many ways volunteers can help:
• Get sponsors
• Build contacts database
• Event flyers
• Registration• Grants• Event Planning• Building Trails
Sponsors/FundraisersMicrobreweriesWineriesbands / restaurantsLawn & Garden stores (trail eqpt)Movie NightsPizza nightsDinner/dance/silent auction“Big name” / Exciting venue
• Grants/Funding
• Good grant writer• Biggest pot of $ = RTP/ Dept. of Transportation• IMBA• REI• Team with others• SPARK – Grant Directory• Advocacy/ legislation• Resource conservation• Rails to Trails
How can my community build Legendary Trails?• Develop a Trail User Group that meets regularly• Use the trail expertise of this group to plan• Treat your volunteers well• Raise money• Have fun
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