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Focus Term: Tourism and Economic Development


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Central Indiana Trail-Oriented Development Study
March 17, 2025
Trail-oriented Development (TrOD) is a planning approach that clusters residential and commercial spaces around trails, creating walkable, human-scaled environments designed for active transportation, recreation, and business growth. Central Indiana features a growing network of trails, including the Monon Trail and Fall Creek Trail, with vibrant areas like Broad Ripple and Carmel Midtown successfully embracing TrOD […]
Indiana's Indianapolis Cultural Trail | Photo by Cindy Dickerson
Blog
Kansas’ Prairie Spirit Trail State Park
March 04, 2025

The 53-mile Prairie Spirit Trail State Park encompasses iconic Kansas landscape and was the first significant rail-trail in Kansas.

Historic Garnett Depot along the Prairie Spirit Trail State Park | Photo courtesy Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
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Arizona’s Rillito River Park Trail
February 04, 2025

Tucson’s Rillito River Park Trail is a 137-mile trail network and took top honors in USA Today’s Readers’ Choice polls in both 2021 and 2022.

Rillito River Park Trail's Tracks and Trails mural | Photo Courtesy Pima County Public Art
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16 Trails Featured in Movies and Television
January 29, 2025

For some cinematic fun, here’s a list of 16 trails featured in movies and television including Rocky, Field Of Dreams and Stand By Me.

Rocky Balboa statue in Philadelphia | Photo courtesy Eva Garcia
Blog
Hawai’i’s Ke Ala Hele Makālae
September 05, 2024

Ke Ala Hele Makālae, which runs for 8 miles along Kaua’i’s Coconut Coast, was inducted into Rails to Trails Conservancy’s Hall of Fame.

Bicyclists on Hawaii's Ke Ala Hele Makālae | Photo courtesy Kauai Path
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Missouri’s Rock Island Trail State Park: Building Miles and Momentum
July 09, 2024

The Katy Trail State Park and Rock Island Trail State Park would form a trail loop of almost 450 miles—something unique to the world.

Groundbreaking in Owensville, Missouri, along the developing Rock Island Trail State Park | Photo courtesy Friends of Rock Island Trail State Park
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Pennsylvania’s Armstrong Trails
July 09, 2024

Pennsylvania’s Armstrong Trails is a 52.5-mile route—connecting more than a dozen communities in Armstrong, Clarion and Westmoreland counties.

Armstrong Trails board members | Photo by Chris Ziegler
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Five Years Of Progress On Great American Rail-Trail Elevates National Impact Of Active Transportation Infrastructure
May 08, 2024

RTC marked 5th anniversary of the Great American Rail-Trail alongside Warrior Expeditions, REI Co-op, members of Congress and state officials.

Warrior Expeditions bike ride to commemorate 5th anniversary of Great American Rail-Trail | Photo by Mariah Miranda Photography
Blog
You Can Get to These Eco-Friendly Stadiums by Trail
April 08, 2024

These stadiums are eco-friendly champs, but they also encourage fans to reduce their carbon footprint by getting to the games via trails.

Participants on an Urban AdvenTours ride reach Boston's TD Garden | Photo courtesy Urban AdvenTours
Blog
California’s Sacramento River Rail Trail and Trail
October 05, 2023

The Sacramento River Rail Trail and its sister trail to the south, the Sacramento River Trail, together form a 21-mile major artery to a 200-miles-plus trail system of mostly dirt (but some paved) routes that can take users from Redding, a major urban area, into open areas of wilderness.

Diestelhorst to Downtown ride | Photo courtesy City of Redding