American Trails Advancing Trails Award Winners announced at the 24th International Trails Symposium and Training Institute
The Advancing Awards Program is one way American Trails recognizes the tremendous contributions and successes of exemplary people across the globe who are working to advance trails. These awards are presented every two years during the International Trails Symposium and Training Institute.
SYRACUSE, N.Y., May 3, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Hulet Hornbeck Lifetime Service Award: Rory Robinson
This award is for an individual that, like Hulet Hornbeck, exemplifies long-standing vision and wisdom in support of trails.
Whether Rory Robinson is on the Mississippi River, coordinating an international trails event, or facilitating community meetings in Indiana, Rory has been committed to his work in assisting local residents, organizations, and communities to learn about and become stewards of their significant natural resources and to play along trails that connect them to those resources.
Chairman's Award: Gary Vernon (The Walton Family Foundation)
This special award is conferred at the will of the Chair of the board, in concurrence with fellow board members, to recognize notable achievements by an individual that changes the landscape of the trails industry.
A lifelong cycling enthusiast, Gary joined the Walton Family Foundation in 2015 to work full full-time on cycling and trail building projects.
Trail Accessibility Award: Willie Wildlife Marsh
This award recognizes a project that demonstrates integration of accessibility characteristics into its design and construction. The Willie Wildlife Marsh Interpretive Trail is a wonderful example of an accessible trail that blends into the natural environment.
Trail Planning & Design Award, Level One: Western Piedmont Trail
This award recognizes a trail project that demonstrates innovative planning and design techniques while making a positive contribution to the community it serves. This project demonstrates the impressive range of expertise of Montgomery County Parks' staff in restoring and re-connecting a highly functional segment of stream within one of the most pristine and biologically unique watersheds in the County.
Trail Planning & Design Award, Level Two: Three Creeks Trail
This award recognizes a project that demonstrates innovative planning and design techniques while making a positive contribution to the community it serves. (Level Two category – more than $500,000). This former railway site marks the 60th mile of the City of San Jose's growing urban trail network.
Trail Partnership Award: Tahoe East Shore Trail Alliance
This award is given to a partnership which benefits agencies or services within the field of trail planning, design, or implementation.This unprecedented bi-state, multi-county, multi-agency and non-profit Alliance has worked together towards this common goal that has created a lasting legacy for the Lake Tahoe Basin.
Trail Promotion and Education Award: The Georgia Mountains Children's Forest Network
This award recognizes innovative and successful strategies for promoting and increasing trail use and understanding. Five partner organizations collectively manage and support multiple program elements to enhance connection of young people in northern Georgia to the national forest.
Trails and the Arts Award: Major Taylor Trail Mural
This award recognizes the integration of art with the trail experience including outstanding public art works, interpretive signs, or other creative structures, sounds or even smells associated with trail related enhancement. A graffiti-covered railroad bridge becomes a 400-foot example of public art that does much more than improve aesthetics.
Trails for Health Award: City of Baton Rouge
This award recognizes a community's commitment to improving access to trails and promoting their use and importance for increasing physical activity.
The City's new Baton Rouge Health District consists of a series of new roads and a Health Loop trail lined with parks that will improve pedestrian access, add exercise paths, and promote outdoor activity and fitness.
International Planning & Design Award: Hidden Lakes Trail Network, Perito Moreno National Park, Argentina
This award recognizes unique and outstanding collaboration between trail partners spanning international borders. It can be focused on a specific trail project or can reflect a broader joint approach that contributed to or catalyzed a positive outcome in trail planning, design, implementation, or promotion. The partnership can be between or among private organizations, regional and local agencies, national governments, or any mixture of participating parties.
The Hidden Lakes Trail Network project, located in Perito Moreno National Park, is an ambitious recreational trail and infrastructure development project in a remote area of Argentine Patagonia.
State Awards: Outstanding Trail Leaders
These awards recognize individuals who have made compelling and significant contributions to the trails movement in their home states. Any area of trail excellence or achievement – advocating, designing, building, using, maintaining, promoting, decorating, adapting technologies for trail use, etc. – could be grounds for receiving this honor. Only one award per State will be made.
Adam Dasinger (Alabama)
Adam is an outstanding example of a citizen turning passion into action to make a difference in the lives of others through recreational trails.
Erik Pritchard (California)
Erik is the president of the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (SVIA®) and the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association.
Kriste Peoples (Colorado)
Kriste is the founder of Black Women's Alliance of Denver, hosting year-round outdoor events as well as indoor workshops and retreats aimed at empowering us and igniting a sense of adventure in body, mind, and spirit.
Jill Lingard (Florida)
Jill is the communications coordinator for Paddle Florida and has an American Canoe Association Level I Instructor certification.
Diane Banta (Illinois)
As an Outdoor Recreation Planner with the National Park Service, Diane is dedicated to building trails that connect our communities.
Angie Pool (Indiana)
Angie's efforts on Indiana's longest trail, as well as those to better the state's trail system, establish her as an outstanding trail leader in Indiana.
Damon Robison (Louisiana)
From the beginning over twenty years ago, Berwick Town Councilman Damon Robison saw the great value of a trail and shepherded it to completion just last year.
Bonnie Bell (Maryland)
Bonnie's leadership in park stewardship has impacted and inspired hundreds of people over the years in the value and fun of conservation service.
Anne Gullion (Minnesota)
Anne Gullion was a driving force behind bringing horse trails to Duluth as a tourism attraction.
Josh Adams (Missouri)
Josh Adams is the sole member and project leader for the Missouri Trails Project.
Tim Johnson (North Carolina)
For two decades, Tim Johnson has been that champion for sustainable trails in North Carolina.
Erik Mickelson (New Jersey)
Eric is a consummate trail professional whose technical skill and artistic vision have contributed greatly to the trails in New York State.
Andy Niekamp (Ohio)
Andy dedicates his entire life to providing opportunities for himself and for others to get exercise, explore nature, live a healthier lifestyle, and make our community a better place to live.
Wayne Chevalier (Oregon)
Wayne is a champion of promoting and maintaining the use of traditional skills in trail work.
Sean Gobin (Virginia)
Sean Gobin's Warrior Expeditions help 40 veterans a year take time out from the world and use trails to walk off the war.
Gary Werner (Wisconsin)
Gary represents the Partnership for the National Trails System in working with Federal agency staff and other non-profit organizations to develop national trails policy initiatives.
AMERICAN TRAILS
American Trails is pursuing a national infrastructure of trails and greenways that serves a full range of activities. Through education, partnerships, and timely information resources, American Trails promotes the creation, conservation and broad enjoyment of quality trails and greenways that offer places of solace, health, fitness, recreation and transportation for all Americans. The organization supports local, regional, and long-distance trails and greenways, whether in backcountry, rural, or urban areas.
American Trails is the only national nonprofit organization working on behalf of all trail types. Visit the world's largest online resources for trails, greenways, and blueways: http://www.AmericanTrails.org.
For more information and to see award winners visit: https://www.americantrails.org/communications/awards/nationalTrailsAwards
SOURCE American Trails
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