Posts by Amy Kapp Page 3

How May T. Watts Inspired the Illinois Prairie Path and U.S. Rail-Trail Movement

Posted 03/14/16 by Amy Kapp in Success Stories, Taking Action | Tagged with Celebrating 30 Years, Champions, Demand for Trails, History Happened Here, Illinois

Illinois Prairie Path | Trail photo courtesy David Wilson | CC by 2.0 | Photo of Watts by Isabel Wasson

May Theilgaard Watts was a writer, illustrator, naturalist, scientist and teacher. Her determination that Americans stay connected to their natural landscape in a time of increasing urbanization was the catalyst that led to the formation of the 61-mile Illinois Prairie Path, which today forms a 61-mile web through the Chicago Area.

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Montour Trail in Pennsylvania | Photo courtesy Jim Brown

30 Years: Birth and Evolution of the American Rail-Trail Movement

Posted 03/10/16 by Amy Kapp in Success Stories | Tagged with Celebrating 30 Years, Demand for Trails, Federal, Funding, History Happened Here

The U.S. rail-trail movement began not with a bang—but as an intriguing idea that quietly took hold in the Midwest in the 1960s and eventually spread across the country. Here's a brief history of the rail-trail movement and a glimpse of RTC's future focus on regional trail networks.

Glacial Drumlin State Trail in Wisconsin | Photo courtesy Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin | CC by 2.0

Meet the Badger: 500-Mile Trail Network Takes Hold in Southeast Wisconsin

Posted 03/03/16 by Amy Kapp in Building Trails | Tagged with Celebrating 30 Years, Connected Systems, Route of the Badger, Tourism and Economic Development, Trail Destinations, Wisconsin

In October 2014, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) formally launched an initiative in Southeast Wisconsin that could have an enormous transformative effect on the region and America’s rail-trail future. The goal of the project, appropriately dubbed the Route of the Badger, is to connect completed trails in seven counties—Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha—into a world-class destination trail system.

The High Line in New York City | Photo by Adrian Cabrero

10 Rail-Trails That Helped Build the Movement

Posted 02/11/16 by Amy Kapp in America's Trails, Success Stories | Tagged with Best Of, Celebrating 30 Years, Success Stories

In February 1986, RTC opened its doors—and since that time, trails have become the fabric of our existence—for health and physical activity, transportation, economic development, recreation and cultural impact. (They are, in a word, awesome.) In honor of RTC’s 30th anniversary, here are 10 game-changers of the rail-trail movement.

Ricker Miller of Andover guides a recovered 1,400-pound milepost back into its proper place beside the Northern Rail Trail. | Photo by Ed Hiller

100-Plus-Year-Old Mileposts Returned to New Hampshire Rail-Trail

Posted 12/10/15 by Amy Kapp in Building Trails, America's Trails | Tagged with Signage and Amenities, Heritage and Restoration, History Happened Here, Maintenance and Volunteers, New Hampshire

Here’s a fun one for all of you railroad history buffs; volunteers have just returned another 1,400-pound granite milepost to its original position along the Northern Rail Trail in Boscawen, New Hampshire—part of an ongoing effort to recover and return all 58 to their original positions between Concord and Lebanon. Only seven remain missing!

Delaware's Mike Castle Trail | Photo courtesy TrailLink.com/James McGinnis

Delaware Signs the Deal for Phase 1 of Georgetown-Lewes Rail-with-Trail

Posted 12/10/15 by Amy Kapp in Building Trails, America's Trails | Tagged with Delaware, Rail-with-Trail, Walkability and Bikeability

The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) has just signed and sealed the contract deal for the construction of Phase I of the Georgetown-Lewes rail-with-trail project. When complete, the trail will be the longest in the state!

Stand by Me (1986) | Copyright by Columbia Pictures and other respective production studios and distributors. Intended for editorial use only.

10 Movies with Great Walking Moments

Posted 11/24/15 by Amy Kapp in Trail Use | Tagged with Best Of

With Thanksgiving upon us (a great movie watching holiday) and with the U.S. Surgeon General’s recent Call to Action on Walking, we figured it was the perfect time to post: 10 Movies with Great Walking Moments. What better activity brings us all together as families—and as communities—in the great sagas and adventures that make up our lives?

Nov. 1, 2015, ribbon cutting for the Thorn Creek Trail and Old Plank Road Trail extensions in Chicago Heights, Illinois | Photo by Thomas' Photographic Services

Illinois Completes Southeast Portion of 500-Mile "Grand" Trail Network

Posted 11/13/15 by Amy Kapp in Building Trails, Success Stories | Tagged with Connected Systems, Illinois, Trail Communities

A ribbon cutting recently took place in Chicago Heights, Illinois, to celebrate the completion of extensions for the 16-mile Thorn Creek Trail and 22-mile, in-progress Old Plank Road Trail. This is big for Cook and Will counties and big for the entire region, as it brings the 500-Mile Grand Illinois Trail Network closer to completion.

Cowboy Trail in Nebraska | Photo courtesy Ken Ratcliff | CC by 2.0

Nebraska Celebrates New Section of Cowboy Trail in Sheridan County

Posted 10/09/15 by Amy Kapp in Building Trails, America's Trails | Tagged with Demand for Trails, Nebraska, Trail Communities

Thanks to the efforts of Cowboy Trail West, Inc. and the Nebraska Game and Park Commission, three miles (two sections) of the Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail in Gordon and Rushville have just been completed, culminating in a public dedication on Oct. 3., 2015.

Photo courtesy Missouri Rock Island Trail, Inc.

Final Missouri Rock Island Trail Segment Confirmed in 450-Mile Trail Network

Posted 10/01/15 by Amy Kapp in Building Trails, America's Trails | Tagged with Demand for Trails, Missouri, Rock Island, Success Stories

On Sept. 30, 2015, Jackson County, Missouri, Executive Mike Sanders and KCATA President Joe Reardon announced that a cooperative agreement was reached to purchase a 17.7-mile section of disused Rock Island Corridor stretching from Kansas City to Lee’s Summit for future rail-trail conversion. This is the last peg in the planned 200-plus-mile Rock Island Trail and a 450-mile trail network that spans the width of the state.

Chessie Nature Trail | Photo by Frank N. Carlson

10 Great Hiking and Walking Trails

Posted 09/30/15 by Amy Kapp, Laura Stark in America's Trails, Health and Wellness | Tagged with Best Of, Trail Destinations, Walkability and Bikeability

The U.S. Surgeon General recently called on all Americans to make walking a regular part of daily life—and to create more safe, walkable communities—to improve our nation’s health. RTC and the Every Body Walk! Collaborative have designated October as Trails, Parks and Outdoor Spots month to promote great walkable places and get people involved. In honor of the month, here's a list of 10 great walking and hiking trails across America.

Great Shasta Rail Trail | Photo Courtesy Great Shasta Rail Trail Association

California Welcomes 80-Mile Great Shasta Rail Trail

Posted 09/21/15 by Amy Kapp in America's Trails, Building Trails | Tagged with California, Community Events, Trail Communities

In late September, California formally welcomed the in-progress, 80-miles-when-complete Great Shasta Rail Trail (GSRT) in a special two-day celebration. Three trail sections, totally nearly 37 miles, opened during a ribbon cutting ceremony and reception on Sept. 26–27, 2015.