Trail Communities Page 6

Heart of Minneapolis: The Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway

Posted 04/25/14 by Leeann Sinpatanasakul in America's Trails | Tagged with Connected Systems, Minnesota, Trail Communities

Photos CC Meet Minneapolis

At the heart of Minneapolis’ world-class trail system is the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway, a series of seven segments of interconnected parks and parkways that loop around the city, acting as a key connector to the entire network of city parks and trails, and more than 300 miles of regional trails. The 7 segments are connected by 51 miles of paved pedestrian paths and (mostly) separate bike paths, as well as 55 miles of driving parkways that give the Grand Rounds its status as a national scenic byway.

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Photos © Bryan French, Annual Mayor's Ride in Duluth, MN

Duluth, Minn., Is Striving to Become North America's "Premiere Trail City

Posted 04/23/14 by Katie Harris in Building Trails, Success Stories | Tagged with Champions, Health and Active Living, Minnesota, Trail Communities

Mayor Don Ness, Duluth’s champion for trails, issued a challenge to the Duluth Trail Advisory Group—that “Duluth should be the premier trail city in North America”—and he is taking action to make that vision a reality. In 2011, the final draft of the Trails and Bikeways Master Plan was published, creating a blueprint for the future as the city moves forward.

Photos © WABI Burien and Patti Means Project Solutions

In Washington: How Nostalgia—and Lots of Passion—Made a Town More Bikeable

Posted 02/18/14 by Amy Kapp in Success Stories | Tagged with Local Organizing, Trail Communities, Washington, Why Use Trails?

In this post, as RTC continues our month-long focus on Washington State, we are pleased to explore a local community's transformation into a more walkable and bikeable place, and the nostalgic passion of one local champion who put the gears in motion.

Photo © TrailLink.com

Possible New Rail-Trail May Add to Embarrassment of Riches in Oakland County, Michigan

Posted 11/07/13 by Jake Lynch in America's Trails, Success Stories | Tagged with Michigan, Trail Communities

Oakland County is in fact a pretty amazing story in itself. Within just a few miles of the Paint Creek Trail is a myriad of beautiful (and very useful) rail-trails and greenways - it might have flown under the radar somewhat, but this county has got to be one of the best trail destinations anywhere. All just a short drive from Detroit.

Photo © www.facebook.com/MEPRD

Two Minutes With Mike Buehlhorn - Executive Director of MEPRD

Posted 10/11/13 by Mike Buehlhorn in Building Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Encouraging Trail Use, Illinois, Trail Communities

With lots of attention being paid these days to how trail systems encourage healthy communities, there is a lot of buzz around Madison and St. Clair counties in Illinois' St. Louis Metro Area. The reason for the buzz? The Metro East Park and Recreation District (MEPRD), which since 2000 has helped build hundreds of miles of dedicated bike facilities and sparked a surge in active transportation. Keen to learn how they do it, RTC grabbed a couple of minutes with its executive director, Mike Buehlhorn.

Photo © Jean Mooring

We Asked You - What's So Great About Trails in Illinois?

Posted 10/11/13 by Rhonda Romano in America's Trails, Success Stories | Tagged with Best Of, Illinois, Trail Communities

As you may have noticed, October is “all things Illinois” here at RTC – all this month we’re diving into what’s happening around trails, biking and walking in The Prairie State. So we reached out to our members and supporters who live and work there to get it straight from the source - what’s so great about Illinois?

Photo © Friends of the Constitution Trail

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

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.