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