Celebrating Progress, Building On a Legacy
This year, my annual reflection on Rails to Trails Conservancy’s impact took a different shape—a broader view beyond this past year. It’s a reflection rooted in the organization’s legacy and the future that we are building together. A future where everyone in our country can safely walk, bike and be active outside in the communities where they live, work and play.
As we looked back on our impact in Fiscal Year 2025, it became clear that the story was incomplete without a grounding in our 40-year legacy. So many of the victories, opportunities and transformative moments of the past fiscal year were built upon decades of progress by the people who built our movement.
New miles of trails and new trail network connections are a testament to the hard work and tenacity of our staff and the thousands of organizations and civic leaders we work with across the country. Political and legal victories are the result of hard-won precedents and evidence that this infrastructure brings far-reaching benefits to people and places. The ways trails have become parts of people’s everyday lives—and how, in return, people show up to celebrate, advocate for and take care of these spaces—are both profound and powerful.
The depth and breadth of this work touches millions of lives each year and has truly transformed the American experience. It has changed how we move through our neighborhoods, how we explore the nature that surrounds us, and how we take in the history and heritage of the nation. Our country’s trails have redefined regions, creating tourism anchors and economic opportunities. They help us safely navigate our communities, providing transportation options that get us where we need to go.
Trails invite us outside to move our bodies, clear our minds and visit with friends and neighbors. The benefits that trails deliver are vital—essential—to our collective quality of life. The country is spending far too little time outdoors, and the implications for our mental health and the strength of society are well documented.
More than half of adults spend less than 30 minutes outside every day, and the statistics for children are comparable, with a direct impact on our individual health and connections to others. At the same time, there are 20 pedestrian fatalities, on average, every single day in America. We work urgently to reimagine public spaces so everyone can safely and easily be active outside, and advocate with resolve to strengthen public investment in trails, walking and biking.
We’re releasing our FY 2025 Impact Report against the backdrop of RTC’s 40th anniversary and the nation’s 250th birthday—deep moments of reflection on the progress we’ve made, the areas we can improve and the opportunities ahead.
Trails unite us. These are the spaces where relationships are built, friendships are made and communities thrive. Let’s build the next 40 years together.
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Everyone deserves access to safe ways to walk, bike, and be active outdoors.
