"Trail Town" Designations
SYNOPSIS
Certification of nine local communities as “Trail Towns” will help stimulate reinvestment and growth in our local economies. This Project team will work with our town leaders to inventory existing pathways, utilizing bike/walk audit techniques to identify opportunities for each town to qualify for its own “Trail Town” certification. The audit will consider trails of all types (outdoor recreation: hiking, biking, equestrian, kayaking/canoeing and arts; and culture: history, artisan, wine/breweries, music, public art, farms, etc.) to promote as part of each community’s Trail Town certification, to connect outdoor recreation interests with main streets, downtowns, businesses, merchants and services in each community.
PROJECT STATUS
Information has been gathered regarding the criteria for Trail Town certification, a leadership workshop has produced some excellent ideas for next steps, and informs the process for auditing/assessing local Trail Town-eligible infrastructure and attractions.
OPPORTUNITIES
All nine of our area communities should be able to achieve Trail Town certification, which both SCP and the towns can use to promote to visitors and citizens alike.
CHALLENGES
• A Trail Town project coordinator will be needed, to meet with local leadership in each town, supervise the set-up and execution of each bike/walk audit, follow through with submitting certification documentation, and following up with local leadership to insure that the Trail Town certification is properly applied and promoted.
• Because of its relatively low implementation cost, this Project should be considered “low-hanging fruit,” and should receive expedited attention.
PROJECT NEEDS
• Funding may be needed to cover preparation of audit and certification materials, filing fees, development and/or application of Trail Town insignias on local signage as well as in online promotion.
• The Project Coordinator is likely to need additional help, to guide each of our local towns through the certification process.