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Healthy
Trails, Healthy Communities
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Conference
2005 Proceedings
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The Healthy Trails, Healthy Communities Conference was an initiative of Healthy Trails, Healthy People, a Parks & Trails New York program devoted to developing more active communities and an enhanced quality of life through the creation of multi-use trails.
Other program activities include production of a bimonthly electronic newsletter - Parks & Trails E-NEWS, publication of resource materials, and the provision of technical and planning assistance, workshops, mini-grants, and organizational support for selected communities. Healthy Trails, Healthy People is funded in part by a grant from the Healthy Heart Program of the New York State Department of Health
At this second statewide trail & greenways conference, more than 160 participants gained insights for planning and organizing their trail initiatives through presentations by state and national trail experts. We have assembled many of their presentations. Our thanks again to those who have made their wisdom available to New York trail advocates in this permanent way.
The files on the subsequent pages can be quite large and best accessed with a high-speed internet connection if over 1,000KB. Please check the size listed next to an available file before attempting to open or download each file. Files over 5MB in size should be download directly to your hard drive before it is opened. If you would like to see speaker bios, program schedule, and sponsor listings you can download the full conference program below:
Keynote Presentation 1: Parks and Trails that Sustain Us: Shaping the 21st Century Commons
Getting Creative - Planning & Designing Trails that Speak to the Heart and Soul
Bringing Energy To Your Trail Initiative Through Health Partnerships
Managing Risk - What You Need to Know About Liability and Insurance
Conference Program (PDF - 11.11MB) KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS:
Parks and Trails that Sustain Us: Shaping the 21st Century Commons. Robert M. Searns, Principal, The Greenway Team, Inc. (PDF-42,988KB). Robert M. Searns SESSION NOTES (PDF - 29KB) Mr. Searns has a 30-year track record in designing and implementing award-winning greenway and trail projects. He provides services in planning, design, fundraising, right-of-way acquisition, community/agency participation and construction coordination. He has been a speaker and instructor for American Trail, The U.S. National Park Service and The American Planning Association and Urban Land Institute Mayors Workshops. He was Project Director for the Denver Platte River Greenway the award-winning spine of the 450-mile-plus Metro Denver Greenway system. He has also consulted with numerous clients nationwide on trails, open space and greenways including: The City of Las Vegas, Grand Canyon National Park; The Disney Corporation and projects in metro Kansas City, St.Louis, Dallas/Ft Worth and Chicago. He co-authored with Chuck Flink, Greenways: A Guided to Planning Design and Development (Island Press) and Trails for The 21st Century (National Rails to Trails Conservancy and Island Press). He has written articles and editorials for Planning Magazine, Landscape Architecture Magazine, Trail Tracks, The Kansas City Star, and other publications. Bob is currently Vice-Chair of American Trails.
One for All & All for One: Pulling Together to Leverage Big Funding for Trails. Tom Woiwode, Director, GreenWays Initiative, Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan. (PDF - 2,945KB). Mr. Woiwode developed the GreenWays Initiative for the Community Foundation, and has served as the Director of this new initiative within the Community Foundation since it was officially launched in 2001. Prior to his work with the Community Foundation, he was the founding director of The Nature Conservancy of Michigan and an officer of the international Nature Conservancy organization, and served in that capacity for almost 20 years. Woiwode has raised over $125 million in private funds for conservation purposes and, while with The Nature Conservancy, completed more than 300 conservation real estate acquisitions. An attorney, Woiwode has been the founder, board member and officer of a number of environmental, conservation and charitable organizations and institutes in Michigan and throughout the country.
WORKSHOPS:
A critical first step for most trail projects is to protect, gain access to, or acquire the desired trail corridor. This session will provide an overview of the common types of access agreements, the railbanking process, and tips for working with different types of landowners. Tom Sexton, Rails to Trails Conservancy (PDF - 5,940KB) Richard Benning, New York - New Jersey Trail Conference Marilyn Howard, New York Farm Bureau A trail on its own is a wonderful thing, but imagine that it can take you on a seamless journey from one community to the next. See how some regions in New York are implementing this vision and learn why it is important to think regionally. John DiMura, New York State Canal Corporation (PDF - 16,203KB) Richard Perrin, Genesee Transportation Council (PDF - 689KB) Jessica DesLauriers, Hudson River Valley Greenway (PDF - 2,083KB) Jennifer Hoppa, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation
Significant volunteer effort is necessary to build support for, develop, and maintain trails. However, committed volunteers are becoming a scarce resource these days. Learn the best practices to build a strong and engaged volunteer base and make the most of the time they are able to offer. Also hear about the alternative approaches some trail groups have taken to carry out the fieldwork roles typically undertaken by volunteers. George Danskin, Wallkill Valley Rail Trail Association
Keith Kroon, Canalway Trail Association of New York Pasquale Strocchia, Student Conservation Association-Hudson Valley Getting Creative - Planning & Designing Trails that Speak to the Heart and Soul. Recent research indicates that what a trail looks and feels like can make a difference in determining the amount of trail use, especially by those who are not already physically active. Find out what you can do to make your trail an inspiring and vital resource in the life of the community. Learn from some outstanding projects about creative planning and design and concepts that you can borrow to make your corridor an inviting destination, easily accessed by community residents - including those with disabilities.
Richard Karis, New York State Canal Corporation (PDF - 4,110KB) Robert Searns, The Greenway Team, Inc. (PDF - 42,737KB)
Be a More Effective Trails Advocate Trails are usually popular public amenities, but when competing with other priorities for scarce municipal and state funds, they do not always win out. Experienced voices will share the basics you need to know to be a more successful advocate for your trail. Ray Costantino, Hudson Valley Rail Trail
Jeff Jones, Environmental Advocates David Lutz, Neighborhood Open Space Coalition (PDF - 5,421KB)
Bringing Energy to Your Trail Initiative Through Health Partnerships The rise of obesity as a national health epidemic in the U.S. has created new avenues of funding and support for trail development. Learn how to incorporate this emerging issue and find new allies to make your trail initiative even stronger. Justin Booth, Be Active New York State (PDF - 1,512KB) Fran Gotcsik, Parks & Trails New York (PDF - 2,761KB) Karen Wissler, Noyes Memorial Hospital (PDF - 304KB)
The Power of Prevention - Engage the Community First Not everyone wants a trail near his or her home or community. Learn about the common forms and sources of opposition to trails and ways to address legitimate concerns and uncertainty before they snowball into active opposition. Salim Adler, Parks & Trails New York (PDF - 630KB) Betsy Russell, Ontario Pathways
Stefan Yarabek, Hudson & Pacific Designs
Is Your Trail Invisible? Some wonderful trails don't get the use they deserve because they have too low a profile. Could your trail benefit from increased visibility in the community? Learn some basics for putting your trail project out in the public eye. Kevin McLoughlin , Parks & Trails New York (PDF - 4,037KB) Karl Beard, National Park Service Rivers & Trails Program (PDF - 2,745KB) Jerry Luke, Hudson Valley Rail Trail
Kevin Reynolds, Ontario Pathways
Managing Risk - What You Need to Know About Liability and Insurance Concerns about liability for landowners, trail managers, and volunteers can dampen or stall your trail project's momentum if you are not prepared to deal with the common questions that arise. Learn the basics of liability, insurance, and establishing a risk-management system to keep your worries to a reasonable minimum. Robert Reinhardt, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (PDF- 4,334KB) Don Pachner, New York - New Jersey Trail Conference (PDF- 428KB) Jack Bieniek, Cool Insuring Agency John Capuano, New York State Insurance Department Strong & Sustainable Trail Groups Getting a trail project to the construction phase can often take several years of sustained effort by trail advocates. Once a trail is built, trail groups can play a critical ongoing role in making the trail a vibrant community asset. Learn what it takes to put your group on a strong footing to see your trail effort mature and bloom while avoiding common pitfalls. Judy Mower, Management Consultant (PDF - 18KB) Judy Mower SESSION NOTES (PDF - 31KB) Serena Marrero, Council of Community Services of New York State (PDF - 77KB) Serena Marrero SESSION NOTES (PDF - 89KB) Dick Hermans, Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association
Toward Universal Access Knowing what is needed and required to assure that trails are universally accessible has often been difficult to discover and understand. Learn the latest on the status of federal guidelines for accessible trails. Discover how trails for persons with limited mobility are being designed, developed and promoted not only in New York State but also in England's Lake District National Park. Barney Hill, Lake District National Park Authority, England (PDF- 10,949KB) Theresa Paeglow, NYS Department of Health Carole Fraser, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Don White, Upstate Access Network Getting Along - Making Multiple Use Work Most trail managers face user conflicts related to their corridor at some point in the life of the trail project. Get prepared in advance by learning about common friction points and how to avoid or minimize them from those who have weathered the storms and found solutions. Jay Chapman, Tug Hill Ski Club (PDF- 3,347KB) Jim Jennings, New York State Snowmobile Association (PDF - 10KB Jim Jennings SESSION NOTES (PDF - 13KB) Ken Showalter, Old Erie Canal State Historic Park (no PDF available) Grants - Where They Are & How to Win Them Gain an overview of the best funding sources to meet common trail project needs. Learn how to make your funding requests stand out as well as how to avoid common mistakes that can sink your chances. A thorough Q&A session with a diverse panel of professional grant reviewers and grant writers will shine the light of experience on your own grant application questions. Steve Beauvais, NYS Department of Transportation (PDF- 1,502KB) Jason Purvis, Capital District Transportation Committee (PDF - 59KB) Glenn Gidaly, Shingebiss Associates Joseph Grimaldi, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation Tom Woiwode, Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan
Greenway Conservancy/Greenway Council
Health Care Association of New York State
Secretary of State Randy A. Daniels New York State Department of State Quality Communities Program
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation
Health Research Inc.
New York State Department of Transportation
National Park Service Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance Program
Walkill Valley Rail Trail Association
New York State Corps Collaboration
Community Heart Healthy Coalition of Ulster County
Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce Foundation / Cayuga Trails Initiative
Fire Island Wilderness Committee