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Wendy Park Bridge along the Cleveland Foundation Centennial Lake Link Trail | Photo by Jason Cohn

Bridge to Everywhere: Examining Signature Gateways Across America

Posted 06/09/22 by Cory Matteson in America's Trails | Tagged with BATC, Best Of, Connected Systems, Featured Magazine Articles, Great American Rail-Trail, IHTC, Trail Destinations, TrailNation

Across the United States, bridges are serving as the hallmarks, gateways and centerpieces of communities, providing connectivity that has a major impact on active transportation, tourism and economic development. Plus—there’s the view. Here, Rails to Trails spans the country to examine how bridges are transforming trails and regions.

Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge connecting Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Omaha, Nebraska | Photo by Matthew Nissen

20 Iconic Bike and Pedestrian Bridges in America

Posted 06/08/22 by Amy Kapp in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Circuit Trails, Connected Systems, Florida, Great American Rail-Trail, IHTC, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Top10, Trail Destinations, TrailNation, Washington

Across the country, bridges are literally serving as gateways for communities to achieve critical strides in active transportation, conservation and economic development. Here, we take a look at 20 iconic bridges and trestles in the United States (in no particular order) that have played—or are playing—transformative connectivity roles in their regions.

Northern Cheyenne Monument | Courtesy Northern Cheyenne Journey Home Committee

A Path Toward Healing

Posted 06/03/22 by Scott Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Featured Magazine Articles, Great American Rail-Trail, History Happened Here, Local Organizing

Until recently, the term generally preferred was the Northern Cheyenne Breakout, but just as the monument represents a better understanding of the events, so too does what it’s called. The Northern Cheyenne’s Tribal Council voted recently to change the name of their group focused on these events to the Northern Cheyenne Journey Home Committee. “It is a more accurate reflection of our ancestors' decision that day,” said Major Robinson, “which wasn't just to break out—it was to journey home, or die fighting to get there.”

Whitney Washington | Courtesy Whitney Washington

Trail Moments | Recapturing Life on a Great American Journey

Posted 04/14/22 by Laura Stark in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Encouraging Trail Use, Great American Rail-Trail, How-to, Trail Etiquette, Trail Moments, Why Use Trails?

If a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, Whitney Washington’s 3,700-mile route across the country began with a few hard-earned turns of the bike wheel. She estimates that she traveled about 5 miles her first day, but as she gained strength and experience over the course of weeks and then months, that number grew to 20 and then 40 and then as many as 87 miles in a single day near the end of her journey.

Anacostia River Trail | Photo by Sam Kittner, courtesy Capitol Riverfront BID

We Asked—You Answered: Rails-to-Trails Supporters’ Top Priority Picks for 2022 and Beyond

Posted 04/13/22 by Ryan Cree in America's Trails | Tagged with Demand for Trails, Great American Rail-Trail, History Happened Here, State and Federal Programs, TrailsTransform

Over the past few weeks, we asked our members and supporters for feedback on the direction of our work this year via online survey. We were thrilled to receive more than 10,000 responses from passionate trail users, and we’ll be using what we learned to prioritize our efforts into the future. Here’s a quick rundown of the results. Thanks to everyone who responded!

Rails-to-Trails staffers Kevin Belanger and Marianne Wesley Fowler at the opening of the Beverly Bridge along the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail in Washington | Courtesy Kevin Belanger

Beverly Bridge Opening Marks Major Jump Toward Statewide Trail Connectivity in Washington

Posted 04/12/22 by Kevin Belanger in America's Trails | Tagged with Encouraging Trail Use, Great American Rail-Trail, Washington

On April 8, 2022, a ribbon cutting marked a new beginning for the Beverly Bridge—gathering more than 200 people to celebrate its long-anticipated revitalization after years of advocacy from organizations around the state. For the first time since the bridge was closed in 1980 as part of the disused Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, people can cross the Columbia River on this iconic piece of infrastructure.

Considered icons of the New Orleans jazz sound, King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band recorded their debut album in 1923 at Gennett Records in Richmond, Indiana. | Courtesty Charlie Dahan

A Walk to Remember: Indiana’s Place as the Crucible of American Music

Posted 02/01/22 by Scott Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Featured Magazine Articles, Great American Rail-Trail, History Happened Here, Indiana

America’s greatest contribution to cultural history is its music, and no matter what kind of music you listen to, it’s been influenced directly by the records made by those artists of Gennett records.

Gov. Eric Holcomb at the Next Level Trails program announcement in 2019 | Courtesy Indiana Department of Natural Resources

A Conversation With the 2021 Rail-Trail Champion: Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb

Posted 01/25/22 by Brandi Horton, Cory Matteson in America's Trails | Tagged with Champions, Featured Magazine Articles, Great American Rail-Trail, Indiana, Rail-Trail Champion

The state’s Next Level Trails program, part of the broader Next Level Connections infrastructure directive pushed by Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, is investing millions to accelerate trail development across the state. The program, which levels the playing field for trail projects of all sizes and spreads investment to small towns, suburbs and urban hubs alike, could serve as a model for other states and is one reason that RTC is honoring Holcomb as the 2021 Doppelt Family Rail-Trail Champion.

Richmond Greenway | Courtesy RTC

A Look Ahead for the Trails Movement in 2022 and Beyond

Posted 12/21/21 by Amy Kapp in America's Trails, Success Stories | Tagged with Baltimore Greenway Trails Coalition, BATC, Equity, Federal, Funding, Great American Rail-Trail, Recreational Trails Program, Route of the Badger, Trail Moments, TrailNation, Transportation Alternatives

The challenges of the past couple years have shown us that our work remains more important than ever. As we look ahead, we see opportunity and potential in the work and in the inspiration provided by the partners, friends and advocates with whom we share our collective vision.

White River State Trail, part of the Route of the Badger trail network | Photo by TrailLink user lkgatu

Here Are Six Reasons Rails-to-Trails Is Celebrating This Year

Posted 12/10/21 by Amy Kapp in America's Trails, Success Stories | Tagged with Best Of, Funding, Great American Rail-Trail, Indiana, Trail Moments, TrailNation, TrailsTransform, Transportation Alternatives, Wisconsin

A year of positive momentum. That’s how we'd describe 2021, which—despite many challenges and much uncertainty—still came with so much hope and progress for trails and those who made them happen.