Local Organizing Page 8

People Power - RTC Report Gathers Inspiring Volunteer Stories from Across America

Posted 07/12/12 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Building Trails | Tagged with Case Studies, Facts and FIgures, Idaho, Local Organizing, Maintenance and Volunteers

Photo © Valley County Pathways

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's Western Regional Office last month released a terrific report that gathers all these stories--of local groups and volunteers across America using their community strength to create incredible trails. It's called Community Built - Stories of Volunteers Creating and Caring For Their Trails.

Full Story
Photo © blueriverrailtrail.org

Young Farmers Big Fans of Kansas' Rail-Trail Aspirations

Posted 07/06/12 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in America's Trails, Building Trails | Tagged with Kansas, Local Organizing, Overcoming Opposition, Schools and Young People

In Marysville, Kan., near the Nebraska border, members of the local high school's Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter are throwing their support behind the Blue River Rail Trail, building benches, installing a new sign and bulletin board kiosk at the trailhead, and doing much-needed bridge repair work.

Photo © BJ Barnes

From Trash to Treasure: In Oklahoma, Locals Transform Long Neglected Rail-Trail

Posted 06/07/12 by Laura Stark in Building Trails | Tagged with Local Organizing, Maintenance and Volunteers, Oklahoma, Overcoming Opposition

Cutting through dense woodlands that block the wind and offer shade from the hot Oklahoma sun, the Old Frisco Trail was the ideal place to run. But there was a problem. Long neglected, the trail had become so overgrown and in such disrepair that people began dumping their trash on it from nearby roadways (right), especially on days when the city dump was closed.

Photo © playgallery.org

RTC Honors New York's Rail-Trail Game Changers

Posted 05/23/12 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Success Stories, Taking Action | Tagged with Champions, Local Organizing, New York, RTC in Action

Without the foresight and advocacy of Robert Hammond and Joshua David (right), there would be no High Line. Hammond and David founded Friends of the High Line in 1999, inspired at first by a desire to save the unique trestle structure from demolition, and later by the enormous possibility they saw in an elevated public greenway.

Olympic Discovery Trail, Washington

Posted 05/01/12 by Mark Cheater in America's Trails | Tagged with Local Organizing, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month, Washington, Wild and Wonderful

Although the novels are set in real locations on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, you won't find any of Twilight's gothic drama if you journey there. What you will find, however, is plenty of natural drama—snow-capped mountains, verdant rainforests, rocky coasts, pristine lakes—and a rail-trail running through it.

Photo CC Redbeard Math Pirate via Flickr

Train Trestle From Famous Film Soon to Welcome Hikers and Bikers

Posted 04/05/12 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Building Trails | Tagged with California, Corridors and Railbanking, Local Organizing

Now, Americans of all ages will be able to reenact that famous scene in Stand by Me in a much more leisurely (and safe) fashion, with the announcement last week that an agreement has been struck to purchase the out-of-service section of rail corridor in northeast California and convert it into a rail-trail.

Photo © Rainier to Ruston Rail-Trail Relay

From Mt Rainier to Puget Sound - Relay Race Raises Money for Foothills Trail

Posted 04/01/12 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Trail Use | Tagged with Community Events, Local Organizing, Private Fundraising, Washington

The history of the race and the rail-trail are inextricably intertwined. When the first Rainier to Ruston Rail-Trail Relay was held in 1992, its goal was to raise money to build the Foothills Trail and help connect Mount Rainier with Puget Sound along an out-of-service section of the Northern Pacific Railroad.