When we think about what it takes to develop a successful trail network, engagement is inherently part of the equation. But figuring out how to engage the many different people—local residents, elected officials, the business community and more—can be overwhelming. One way to approach this is by thinking about the many moments that take place in your community and across your region that bring relevance and meaning to the impact of connected trails. Consider existing local events like farmers markets and festivals that are well-loved and well-attended or large-scale national events that draw focus to trails and create an opportunity to position your trail network as part of a movement.
During this webinar, we explored the different ways that communities across the country have leveraged existing moments and new opportunities to engage their residents, amplify the project vision and its benefits to the community and advocate for this critical infrastructure with their local decision makers. You will walk away with new ideas, best practices and strategies to accelerate buy-in for you trail network goals.
Join Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) for our TrailNation™ Playbook in Action series! Throughout the year, we’ll take a deep dive into the TrailNation Playbook, a free resource to leverage the lessons learned from building trail networks straight from leaders across the trails and active transportation movement who are successfully implementing the playbook strategies in their communities.
Panelists:
- Nia Reed-Jones, Ph.D., President and Executive Director, Black People Ride Bikes, Baltimore, Maryland (blackpeopleridebikes@gmail.com)
- Elaine Price, Planning Initiatives Specialist – Greenspace, Cuyahoga County Planning Commission, Cleveland, Ohio (eprice@cuyahogacounty.us)
- Clay Carmichael, Selma City Council President Pro Temp/Ward 3 and co-founder of Selma Cycles and Blackbelt Benefit Group,️ Selma, Alabama (ccforward3@gmail.com)
- Heather Irish, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (moderator)
Related Links:
- TrailNation Collaborative: https://www.railstotrails.org/our-work/trailnation/collaborative/
- TrailNation Playbook: https://www.railstotrails.org/our-work/trailnation/playbook/
- Engagement section of the Playbook: https://www.railstotrails.org/our-work/trailnation/playbook/engagement/
- Impact of Celebrate Trails Day 2023: https://www.railstotrails.org/experience-trails/celebrate-trails/#impact
- Bay Area Trails Collaborative (BATC) interactive map: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/97383acd88b44a65964ab1ed94c0cef4
- Black People Ride Bikes website: https://blackpeopleridebikes.com/
- Connect with Black People Ride Bikes on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackpeopleridebikes/
- Join Black People Ride Bikes’ Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/563616054177323
- Bike with a Mayor press: https://www.cleveland.com/news/2023/04/cleveland-mayor-justin-bibb-cuyahoga-county-executive-chris-ronayne-take-earth-day-bike-ride-to-support-trails.html
- Bike with a Mayor upcoming events: https://www.countyplanning.us/projects/cuyahoga-greenways/
- Bike with a Mayor toolkit: Google Drive
