Trail Care Workshop Dispatch
“These 2.5-pounders are the way to go, honestly,” noted Joey as he rotated a blue-handled pick mattock in his left hand.
Joey Klein of IMBA Trail Solutions, flanked by Brenna Kelly, Hamilton County’s Trails Manager and Sunshine Loveless, SORBA Chattanooga’s Executive Director, stood adjacent to SORBA Chattanooga’s sticker-emblazoned tool trailer. It was Friday, February 27th, the day before a weekend of trail education with 20 local stewards. Tapping away on her notes app, Brenna listens as Joey lists a few extra tools that would be needed.
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This trio follows the beloved intermediate trail, Atlas, and assesses what areas make sense to focus on during the workshop. Cory Callahan rounds out the group to four; this trail care workshop marks his official transition from full-time hand crew on the IMBA Trail Solutions construction team to full-time trail care specialist.
The start of this weekend marks a noteworthy moment for trails in Chattanooga: the first-ever Executive Director of SORBA Chattanooga (Sunshine) and the first-ever Trails Director for Hamilton County (Brenna) are co-leading what promises to be a pivotal shift for the community, from purely volunteer stewardship to professionally led, more formalized stewardship.
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The Evolution of Stewardship
SORBA Chattanooga is rising with the tide of the entire city. Chattanooga has long been known as a hub for outdoor adventure, but recently, the "Scenic City" leveled up by becoming North America’s first National Park City. It’s a title that carries weight, signaling a commitment to a landscape where nature and urban life are intrinsically interwoven. However, more love means more pressure. With over 175 miles of mountain bike-accessible singletrack within a 30-minute radius of downtown, the conversation in Chattanooga is shifting from "how much can we build?" to "how do we keep what we have in top shape for everyone?"
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Feeling that shift, Sunshine applied for an IMBA Trail Accelerator Grant (TAG) during the Fall 2025 cycle. This cycle, for the first time in the program’s existence, focused on trail care education, strategic planning, and funding education. The goal was simple but ambitious: professionalize the volunteer workforce, bridge the gap between land managers and users, and ensure the next 20 years of Chattanooga trails are as sustainable as the last.
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For SORBA Chattanooga, an organization celebrating 23 years of advocacy, the workshop was a necessary "infusion of energy."
"We help steward 100 miles of those trails," Sunshine noted, reflecting on the sheer scale of the network. "To only fall on the backs of volunteers and one paid staff... we’re still really dependent on volunteers to carry that load. How can we equip them so they feel knowledgeable and confident to be able to address issues and or notify us when they see stuff out on the trails?"
The solution lay in a "train the trainer" approach. By developing crew leads, the organization is building a scalable system where technical knowledge isn't held by just a few but capable of being distributed across the community.
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A Seat at the Table: The Land Manager Partnership
One of the most impactful shifts in Chattanooga’s trail scene is the deepening partnership with Hamilton County. Brenna joined the workshop not just as a land manager, but as a student of the craft. Her position itself is a testament to the county's maturing view of trails as vital infrastructure.
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"I think it's time for the county to invest in a position like this, because the trails have been growing," Brenna said. "I think it just shows a real investment in the community, in our trails and our lands, and in a positive way, a real maturing of a trail program."
Brenna’s presence at the workshop highlighted a critical theme in modern stewardship: collaboration. When land managers and volunteer groups speak the same language of sustainability, the result is a more inclusive, well-maintained landscape that serves every user, from the gravity seekers to the weekend birdwatchers.
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Soil Durability and Drainage Making
These workshops aren’t all theory; participants got their hands dirty on the trails of Enterprise South, a park known as an entry-level gem for the community. The focus was on trail triage: identifying drainage issues and improving the tread to handle the Southeast’s notoriously wet weather and clay-filled soils.
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Tyler Waklowski, SORBA Chattanooga’s new Trails Director, described the weekend as a personal and professional accelerator. "For me, [this is] huge. It’s honestly night and day and is building confidence for when we have volunteers show up with questions and being able to answer them confidently." This confidence is what transforms a casual volunteer into a steward who can lead a crew, manage safety talks, and ensure that maintenance work actually lasts.
And while the technical aspects of drainage and soil durability are vital, the secret sauce of sustainable trails is always the people. "The number one thing I think that contributes to sustainable trails is a motivated and passionate volunteer force...there are no perfect trails. They're all just maintainable," noted Cory, “And seeing the light bulbs go off for volunteers is the most rewarding part of this work. It’s about empowering the local community to own their backyard.”
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Experiences for All
These Trail Care Workshops continue to resonate with those who don't identify as mountain bikers first. Jeremy Parker, a trail runner and board member for the Lookout Mountain Conservancy, attended to ensure his work met the high standards required for multi-use sustainability.
"A lot of people treat [trails] like a foregone conclusion," Jeremy said, emphasizing that understanding the labor behind the tread creates a deeper appreciation for the resource. Similarly, Gail Loveland Barille, Director of Outdoor Chattanooga, saw the training as a way to invite a more diverse group of users into the outdoors. Her dream? "I want every kid to be able to get on their bike and ride where they want."
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Looking Ahead
By volunteers having more stake in the stoke and deepening the bond between advocates and land managers, Chattanooga is proving that being a National Park City isn't just a title—it’s a daily practice of care.
The trails are there. The knowledge is spreading. Now, the real work begins.
Could your community use an infusion of educational energy?
Learn more about IMBA Trail Care Workshops
Interested in learning more about IMBA’s Trail Accelerator Grants?
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