American Trails Offers 10 Steps to Help Save Our Outdoors

Davenport, Iowa (PRWEB) February 26, 2007 -- Have you ever thought about the future of trails and greenways in America? 10 steps have been compiled that envision a better quality of life, more livable cities, healthier and fitter adults and children and better stewardship of our land and resources. These 10 Steps to Help Save our Outdoors were brought forth at the opening plenary session of over 550 trail and greenway professionals and advocates at American Trails' 18th National Trails Symposium in the Quad Cities of Iowa and Illinois, October 20, 2006.

The leading national Presidential hopefuls were also sent letters prior to the event and were asked to submit their ideas and several of them did. After a long and very eventful discussion, these 10 steps were compiled and have been forwarded to the Members of the 110th Congress, the White House, key agency heads and leaders of the trails community, and the national news media.

American Trails is the only national nonprofit association of trail and greenway advocates and professionals who work on behalf of all trail interests. For over two decades, American Trails has served as a forum and a catalyst to improve the quality of life for all Americans by pursuing a national infrastructure of trails and greenways and in this effort has compiled the following 10 Steps to Help Save Our Outdoors:

1. Promote Connections In Our Communities -- Trail and Greenway infrastructure that connects people and places in our neighborhoods, towns, cities and regions -- readily accessible within 15 minutes walking distance of every American.

2. Create a National Trails Network/System -- An integrated trails network at all levels: linking cities, states, and regions of the United States and North America, as well as trails accessing National Parks, National Forests and other public lands.

3. Commit Sustainable Funding -- Ongoing, sustainable revenue stream to fund and offer incentives to create trails and greenways. Includes federal funds & programs--Transportation Enhancements, Recreational Trails Program, Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ), National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program, USDA Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) programs, Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), Safe Routes to School and Complete Streets.

4. Expand Environmental Education -- Environmental education an integral part of a national and local school curricula at every level.

5. Associate Trails with Health and Fitness -- Trails are, and should be, a significant part of community health and fitness programs.

6. Encourage All Americans to Participate -- Opportunities for the American People to give back -- helping to plan, fund and work on trails in our neighborhoods, parks, as well as on state and federal lands.

7. Promote Sustainable Transportation -- Alternative modes of travel that lessen dependence on foreign oil and reduce CO2 emissions contributing to climate change.

8. Engage, Motivate Youth --- Promote stewardship with youth conservation/trail building corps.

9. Promote Access and Accessibility -- An accessible, safe system for all abilities within easy reach of all homes and places of employment.

10. Build Trail and Greenway Partnerships -- Trails and greenways created as vital infrastructure working with homebuilders and developers, transportation, utility, flood and fire control agencies and others with mutual benefit.

About American Trails:
American Trails works through education, partnerships and timely information resources to promote the creation, conservation and broad enjoyment of quality trails and greenways. American Trails believes these amenities offer places of solace, health, fitness, and recreation, as well as transportation for all Americans.

In addition, American Trails produces the American Trails Magazine three times per year, as well as hosts the website, http://www.AmericanTrails.org, which is one of the largest websites dedicated to trails, with over a million visits annually. The website provides resources on trails training, provides networking among America's State Trails Programs, gives access to a variety of articles, studies, and publications submitted by trail and greenway advocates and professionals around the country and keeps you up-to-date on the latest news and information in the trails world.

Contact:
Pam Gluck, Executive Director
American Trails
530-547-2060
http://www.AmericanTrails.org

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