First Annual Delaware Trail Summit

Delaware Parks and Recreation Society is holding the first annual Trail Summit on February 25, 2010 at the Atlantic Sands Hotel in Rehoboth Beach Delaware. There is potential to alter policies in our parks at this event. Therefore it is extremely important for us to have mountain bikers as well as bike shop owners and employees in attendance to affect policy and access decisions. If we are not well represented at this event, our voice will not be heard. If the voice of the hikers, birders and equestrians is louder than ours at this summit, we lose. It's as simple as that. So please register for this event now because there are only 20 available seats.

NEED TO REGISTER FOR THE TRAIL SUMMIT? GOT QUESTIONS?
Email Jim Ireland at vzewk2ex@verizon.net

People to seek out at the event are...
Collin O'Mara - Secretary of Department of Natural Resources (Governor Appointment that is the bridge between the governor and division director), Chazz Salkins - Division Director of Delaware State Parks

Items to potentially discuss...
- Access to hiking only trails - A Complete Trails Policy that would require specific reasons why a trail isn't shared use
- Night Riding
- Skills Development Areas
- Jump Park

DELAWARE TRAIL SUMMIT- February 25, 2010
AGENDA
8:00 Registration and Coffee

9:00-9:15 Welcome (Ballroom)
Collin O'Mara, Secretary, Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control (invited)

9:15-10:15 Keynote Presentation -- Mark Fenton, Lessons Recalled on a Very Long Walk (Ballroom)
Mark Fenton is an entertaining, persuasive, and knowledgeable walking advocate and one of the nation's foremost experts on walking. Fenton's keynote presentation will draw upon his part of a five-person team attempting to hike the John Muir Trail. He will highlight a vision for population-level improvements, and practical insights into creating policy and environmental changes that are at the heart of sustainably healthy community design. Fenton will offer key principles that should guide the creation of Delaware's statewide trail plan.

10:15-10:40 Break

10:40-11:55 Concurrent Sessions

- A. Trail Toolbox - Trail Planning 101
Learn the steps in planning for sustainable trail design and the importance of coordinating with natural and cultural resource stewards. Collaboration between trail planner and natural and cultural resource stewardship staff will help participants understand basics in trail planning and design.
David Bartoo, DE Division of Parks & Recreation
Rob Line, DE Division of Parks & Recreation

B. Get to Know Trail Users
This session will explore the similarities and differences between trail user groups. Understand how different trail users (mountain bikers, equestrians, and hikers) use, enjoy and benefit from trails. Learn their perspectives on courtesies to other trail users, trail care, and how to successfully coordinate with land managers to maintain trail systems.
Jim Ireland, Delaware Trail Spinners
Peggy Koster, Delaware Equine Council
David Koppeser, Wilmington Trail Club
Moderator, Glen Stubbolo, DE Division of Parks & Recreation

C. The Payoff of Trails: How Trails Increase the Economic Vitality of Communities
Hear how survey information supports the fact that trails do provide a positive economic benefit in communities. Trail users and business owners along four Pennsylvania trails were surveyed to compare the user characteristics and spending patterns on ‘destination' trails. The presented survey results will provide participants with new support that proves "if you build it...they will come", and, spend!
Pat Tomes, Program Manager, Rails to Trails Conservancy
Facilitator, Susan Moerschel, DE Division of Parks & Recreation

11:55-1:00 Buffet Lunch and Roundtable Discussions (Ballroom)

1:00-1:40 General Session -- Trails: Where on Earth Are They? (Ballroom)
In a first ever presentation to Delaware's trail community, the current stateside network of trails will unfold community by community. Using Google Earth as the backdrop, publicly owned and maintained trails will be presented.
Mike Krumrine, DE Division of Parks & Recreation

1:40-2:00 Break & Stretch with Mark Fenton

2:00-3:00 General Session -- Trail Survey Report and Ranking Trail Issues for Statewide Trail Plan (Ballroom)
In the fall of 2009, Delaware State Parks with many partners hosted a Trail Survey to gather information from the trail community. In this General Session, survey findings will be presented that reveal level of trail activity, locations, preferences, and other information. This session will include interactive participation designed to advance strategies for a statewide network of trails. These results will become incorporated into a Statewide Trail Plan.
Kendall Sommers, DE Division of Parks & Recreation
David Bartoo, DE Division of Parks & Recreation

3:00-4:30 Concurrent Sessions

D. Creating More Livable Communities
What are the attributes that make a community more walkable and bicycle friendly? Mark Fenton, our keynote speaker will address the attributes that make communities more livable. Come learn about communities that have been successful in bringing about change. Learn how individuals, neighborhoods, professionals, companies, and governments can immediately begin to alter their environments more positively.
Mark Fenton, Keynote Speaker
Facilitator, Marina Kaplan, Nemours Health and Prevention Services

E. On the Map: Regional & Long Distance Trails
Regional trails and long distance trail that intersect the state are in place, planned or under construction. Learn how these trails are the backbone to a statewide network of trails and their local importance for local recreation and alternative transportation.
East Coast Greenway - Heather Dunigan, WILMAPCO
Northern DE Greenway Trail - Charles Salkin, DE Division of Parks & Recreation
James Hall & Pomeroy Trails - Charles Emerson, City of Newark, Dept. of Parks & Recreation
C&D Canal Trail - Mark Eberle, US Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia office
Moderator, Ron Vickers, DE Division of Parks & Recreation

F. Promoting Trails
Why promote trail use? How do we do a better job of promoting trail use and getting people on trails? You have a fantastic trail built and ready to go, but who notices and who uses it? Promoting what you and your organization do is vital to sustainability of financial support, volunteer interest stakeholder commitment, and letting people know you are open for business. This session will provide the basic steps of building an effective promotional campaign and program.
Carolyn White Bartoo, University of Delaware, Communications Department
Facilitator, Scott Thomas, Southern Delaware Tourism

G. Trail Maintenance with Volunteers
Trail maintenance can be successfully accomplished with volunteers or through creative partnerships. Learn about different volunteer partnerships illustrating various avenues for trail care and Park Watch, a volunteer initiative in Delaware State Parks.
Thomas Kneavel, DE Division of Parks & Recreation
Thom Nobile, Friends of Cape Henlopen State Park
Bob Gaston, Delaware Trail Spinners
Steve Savidge, DE Division of Parks & Recreation
Moderator, Glen Stubbolo, DE Division of Parks & Recreation

4:30 Happy Trails Social (Sands Hotel Cottage)

10:00-4:30 Map Room (Dolphin Room, 1st Floor)
Summit participants are encouraged to visit the Map Room. Come see and examine a set of maps that depict Delaware's network of trails as we know it today. Help our team update the maps and a trail database with the best available information about trails, trailheads, and their attributes. Data collected will be critical for analyzing trail network gaps and updating Delaware's Statewide Trail Plan and the State Outdoor Recreation Plan 2012-2017. GIS Specialist Mike Krumrine, and his assistant Rich Goodman, will be on hand in the Map Room.

Map Room
• Locate, identify and verify existing and open trails and their attributes
• Locate, identify and verify trails under construction
• Locate and identify gaps and connections for planned and existing trails
• Locate and identify existing trailheads and their core elements

What You Should Bring ?
• Your up-to-date trail maps and/or reports
• Your latest trails GIS data
• Your trails GPS data
• Your local trails web site URLs
• Contact names for follow up information

NEED TO REGISTER FOR THE TRAIL SUMMIT? GOT QUESTIONS?
Email Jim Ireland at vzewk2ex@verizon.net