Building a Trails Community

10 Important Steps to Fostering a Cohesive Constituency for Trails

1. Focus on the bigger picture.

More trails, better trails, more open space...how can you work together to further the trail opportunities in your community.

2. Be inclusive.

Trails are important to so many groups. From trail user groups, land managers, the YMCA, Boys and girls clubs, local conservation organizations, bird watchers, to sportsmen...keep your mind open and be inclusive.

3. Check egos at the door.

Personal missions will interfere with joint progress.

4. Identify joint goals and a shared mission.

As trail enthusiasts, shared goals should not be hard to identify. To name a few:

• Environmental stewardship
• Recreation opportunities
• Getting kids involved
• Supporting local land managers
• Land acquisition for open space
• Economic development

5. Create a formal agreement.

Whether a new organization blooms from collaboration which is how the Ohio Trails Partnership formed, or whether you choose to sign a formal Memorandum of Understanding as they did in Michigan, formalize the goals and expectations of your partnership(s).

6. Identify problems with your trail system(s).

Typically trail users are not the source of problems on a trail; it can almost always be tracked back to shortcomings in the trail system.

• Do trails satisfying the needs of designated users?
• Are trails sustainable?
• Is trail use managed effectively?
• Is there enough trail for the number of users?
• Can user conflict be minimized through good trail design?

Identify problems and solutions together, and propose these to the land management.

7. Select high profile projects you can jointly make a success.

Pool your strengths to create a high profile event that will meet the needs of your community-it is guaranteed to be a success!

8. Take action.

As part of your goal identification, include short-term and long-term action steps. Track your progress as a trail community by keeping these action steps in check.

9. Get the word out.

The more people who know about the great work you are doing, the more support your trail community will get. Keep the media, local government officials, trail user groups, and environmental groups in the loop:

• Local media (newspaper, radio, and T.V.)
• Community group newsletters
• Websites
• List-servs
• Invite government officials to events

10. Listen.

As with any relationship, keep the lines of communication open. The foundation for a strong partnership has been laid; continue to build upon that foundation by keeping an open and positive dialogue going into the future.