Focus Term: Local Organizing

Blog
“From Rails to Trails”: The Origin Story of America’s Beloved Pathways 
October 09, 2025

“From Rails to Trails” is a documentary by filmmaker Dan Protess that airs on PBS.org that explores the origins of America’s trails movement.

Marianne Fowler of Rails to Trails Conservancy, Co-Founder of RTC Peter Harnik, rail-trail advocate and author Karen-Lee Ryan, and current RTC President Ryan Chao | Photo by Ben Kolak
Blog
Iowa’s Wabash Trace Nature Trail: August 2025 Trail of the Month
August 05, 2025

Iowa’s Wabash Trace Nature Trail is a 63 mile rail-trail in the counties of Fremont, Mills, Page and Pottawattamie.

Bicyclist on Wabash Trace Nature Trail near Imogene, Iowa | Photo by Laura Stark
Blog
Court Sides with Advocates for Derry Rail Trail Tunnel in Lawsuit Over Historic Rail Corridor
June 30, 2025

The Committee to Save the Derry Rail Trail Tunnel and RTC celebrated a victory in their lawsuit against the New Hampshire DOT and the FHWA.

Preferred Design - In 2020, NHDOT proposed and FHWA approved a design for the Derry Rail Trail similar to the example below. That design complied with Section 4(f) and meets the expectations of the Committee, RTC and the public
Blog
Leveraging Celebrate Trails Day Advocacy in Cuyahoga County
March 21, 2025

Communities in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, have been leveraging Celebrate Trails Day in creative and unique ways—launching a successful series of advocacy and relationship-building opportunities to connect with local legislators and elevate support for their growing trail infrastructure.

David Margolis | Photo by Phil Kidd
resource
Building Collaborative Relationships: Bridging the Gap Between Planning and Advocacy  
February 05, 2025
Join Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC) to learn more about successful collaborations between agencies and organizations to secure funding for trails and active transportation. This session highlighted the importance of collaborative relationships to accelerate trail network development and provides tools to build successful partnerships in your community.   RTC was joined by Audra Koester Thomas and […]
Blog
Nebraska Trails Visionary and Champion Lynn Lightner Passes Away, Age 90 
January 27, 2025

With deep sadness, RTC learned of the passing of Lynn S. Lightner, a long-time leader of the trail movement in Nebraska, on Jan. 16, 2025.

Nebraska trail advocate and builder Lynn Lightner | Courtesy Nebraska Trails Foundation
Blog
Bainbridge Island’s New Welcome Pole: A Symbol of the Past and Present
January 22, 2025

Randi Purser created Bainbridge Island’s new welcome pole representing Schweabe, father of Chief Seattle, for whom the city is named.

Bainbridge Island's welcome pole dedication ceremony | Photo courtesy Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation
Blog
Trail Moments: Jack Perme’s Journey to Help Others With Ataxia
December 31, 2024

Learn about Jack Perme’s journey to helping others with ataxia, a disorder of the nervous system, through his Moving Forward campaign.

Jack Perme in Edgewater, New Jersey | Photo by Monica Perme
resource
Post-Election Landscape: Next Steps for the Trail and Active Transportation Movement
December 09, 2024
Join Rails to Trails Conservancy to learn more about what the election results mean for trails, walking and biking. During this post-election landscape webinar, RTC’s VP of Policy, Kevin Mills, outlined notable developments from state and local ballot measures to shifts in Congressional leadership to expected changes in federal executive branch leadership that will shape […]
resource
Pedal Forward: Preparing Advocacy Plans for 2025 State Legislative Sessions
November 21, 2024
Join the TrailNation Collaborative, powered by Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC), for a session exploring how to best position your active transportation and trail asks for upcoming state legislative sessions, most of which will occur in the winter and spring of 2025. The goal of this dialogue is to give state- and metropolitan-level advocates around […]