Local Organizing Page 6

Illinois' Constitution Trail - a Backbone of Thriving Communities

Posted 10/03/13 by Garry Little in America's Trails, Success Stories | Tagged with Illinois, Local Organizing, Trail Communities

Photo © Friends of the Constitution Trail

For almost 25 years the Town of Normal and the City of Bloomington have been working together to build a linear park treasured by the community that provides residents and visitors with a variety of terrains and experiences. Now a connected web of trail weaving in and throughout "Blo-No," the Constitution Trail is known and loved as one of Illinois' most important trail systems.

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Photo © Forest Preserve District of Will County

Illinois' Old Plank Road Trail

Posted 10/01/13 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Illinois, Local Organizing, Overcoming Opposition, RTC in Action, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

Traveling along the tranquil Old Plank Road Trail today, you would never know the site was once the cause of heated debate and a contentious struggle lasting 20 years. The paved 22-mile rail-trail now offers a canopy of oak trees and sugar maples rustling overhead, delicate prairie grasses that stir with the passage of bicyclists, and soft purple wildflowers that peek up through the green underbrush.

Photo © Reading Viaduct Project's facebook page

Projects of the People - Determined Locals Behind Elevated Rail-Trail in Philly

Posted 07/17/13 by Jake Lynch in Building Trails | Tagged with Local Organizing, Pennsylvania

The effort of local residents to make good use of the derelict Reading Viaduct through the heart of downtown Philadelphia "is one such manifestation of the new urban. It is as much about celebrating and unearthing the great industrial archaeology that built Philadelphia as it is about building new paradigms of public spaces for the new millennium."

Photo trail user traffic along the C&O Canal Towpath © Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Local Businesses Rejoice Reopening of C&O Towpath

Posted 04/18/13 by Jake Lynch in Building Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Local Organizing, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Tourism and Economic Stimulus

When a rock slide forced the closure of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park (C&O Canal Towpath) at mile 155 near the Paw Paw Tunnel in western Maryland, it was bad news for the local and interstate trail users.

Photo © Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Microfinancing, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy style

Posted 03/26/13 by Pat Tomes in Building Trails | Tagged with Local Organizing, Pennsylvania, Private Fundraising

That's why we started the Pennsylvania Mini-Grants Program, which is supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - to assist local organizations that need to make small repairs and improvements to their trail, below the amounts typically requested in larger state and federal grants.

Pennsylvania: A Tale of Two Cities

Posted 03/14/13 by Laura Stark in Building Trails | Tagged with Connected Systems, IHTC, Local Organizing, Pennsylvania

There's no doubt about it: Pennsylvanians love their rail-trails. The Keystone State has more Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) members than any other by far. In 1999, Pennsylvania opened its 100th rail-trail—the first in the nation to reach that milestone—and continues to be in the top echelon of states for open rail-trails. It's no surprise then that its two largest cities, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, have expansive trail systems that are shining models for others to follow.

In Connecticut, Shoreline Greenway a Story of Local Spirit and Generosity

Posted 03/13/13 by Laura Stark in America's Trails, Building Trails | Tagged with Connecticut, Local Organizing, Trail Communities

You mightn't think it, but writing about trails can be a pretty life-affirming experience. More often than not, the stories of how our trails get built are stories about community spirit, the volunteer ethic, neighbors helping neighbors and local people using plenty of elbow grease, ingenuity and determination to build something of long-lasting good.