POINT OF VIEW
Joy and Reflection
Rails to Trails is the magazine of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors to build healthier places for healthier people. RTC was incorporated in 1985 as a nonprofit charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is a publicly supported organization as defined in Sections 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) and 509(a)(1). A copy of the current financial statement, or annual report, and state registration filed by RTC may be obtained by contacting RTC at the address listed below. Donations to RTC are tax-deductible. Rails to Trails is a benefit of membership in RTC. Regular membership is $22 a year, $5 of which supports the magazine. Members also receive discounts on RTC gifts and publications. Rails to Trails is published four times a year—three in print, one digital—by RTC. Copyright 2022 Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. ISSN 1523-4126. Printed in the U.S.A.
As autumn settles in, I find myself reflecting on the joyful trail moments I squeezed into the nooks and crannies of the longer summer days. Trail walks and bike rides are welcome parts of my routine—whether it’s being active on my commute to the office, connecting with nature and family on long trail walks on weekends, or swapping my car for my bike to get to the grocery store and run other errands around town. I’m committed to keeping all these activities going as the days get cooler in the months ahead. Like Victoria Yuen (p. 32) of Washington, D.C., who recently gave up her car in favor
of biking as her primary mode of transportation, everything is simply better and more rewarding when I can get where I need to go by trail. Victoria shares how, growing up, the idea of walking and biking to where she wanted to go seemed out of reach because she had to navigate streets that were built for cars. Now, biking—on trails—gives her a more enjoyable way to get around. We’re so inspired by stories like Victoria’s that #TeamRTC has decided to challenge ourselves to swap more car trips for trail trips this fall. We’re exploring what it really takes to make that change in our lives—what motivates us and what stands in our way. We’re sharing our stories, and we’ll be using what we learn to help more people choose trails for their everyday activities ( railstotrails.org/swapatrip ). We’re excited and optimistic about what we’ll learn, and we can’t wait to get to know the neighborhoods where we live just a little better. While we love the practical and recreational benefits of trails, they are often underrated for their role as storytellers. In many places, like in St. Louis, trails are elevating long overlooked histories of people and places (p. 8). The Brickline Greenway, part of the developing 600-mile Great Rivers Greenway River Ring, will celebrate the important legacy of Mill Creek Valley—a once thriving Black community that was erased in the late 1950s as part of urban development. The greenway will showcase its history, people, commerce, arts and culture. In Northwest Arkansas, the Razorback Regional Greenway (p. 22) is bringing new energy and momentum to the communities it connects across 45+ miles. Local leaders point to the trail’s path through the heart of these communities, elevating the diversity of cultures and ways of life that make it a great place to live and visit. What’s more, the greenway—traversing one of the country’s fastest-growing regions—is inspiring people to get outside. More than a quarter of residents regularly ride bikes—higher than the national average. They’re pedaling for fun, walking to restaurants and soaking in everything the towns along the route have to offer. These stories capture why the team at Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is so committed to making trails available, accessible and well known to everyone in America. Our moments on the trail create space for joy and opportunities for reflection. They get us outside and connected to each other. I feel more in touch with nature, my neighbors and my home every time I get out from behind a windshield to experience them. At every turn, it’s clear that trails inspire community.
PRESIDENT Ryan Chao BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jon Cofsky, Chair; Balaji Bondili; James Brainard; Edward Chang; Mark A. Filippell, J.D.; John Friedmann; Vanessa Garrison; Rose M. Z. Gowen, M.D.; Catherine Sloss Jones; Noel Kegel; M. Katherine Kraft, Ph.D.; Gail M. Lipstein; Ayesha McGowan; Douglas Monieson; Frank Mulvey, Ph.D.; Timothy Noel, Ph.D., CFA; Tom Petri; John P. Rathbone; Juliette Rizzo; Daniel A. Rodríguez, Ph.D.; James F. Sallis, Ph.D.
MAGAZINE STAFF VP OF COMMUNICATIONS Brandi Horton EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Amy Kapp SENIOR EDITOR Laura Stark COPY EDITOR Sharon Congdon DESIGN/PRODUCTION Bussolati
RAILS-TO-TRAILS CONSERVANCY HEADQUARTERS 2121 Ward Court, NW, 5th Floor Washington, DC 20037-1213 PHONE 202.331.9696 EMAIL magazine@railstotrails.org WEBSITES railstotrails.org, TrailLink.com FIELD AND REGIONAL OFFICES MIDWEST Yellow Springs, OH 614.837.6782 midwest@railstotrails.org NORTHEAST Philadelphia, PA 267.332.4267 northeast@railstotrails.org WESTERN Oakland, CA 510.992.4662 western@railstotrails.org FLORIDA Tallahassee, FL 866.202.9788 r tcflorida@railstotrails.org BALTIMORE Baltimore, MD 410.207.2445 MILWAUKEE Milwaukee, WI 414.688.4367 POSTMASTER SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO Rails to Trails , 2121 Ward Court, NW, 5th Floor Washington, DC 20037-1213
With gratitude,
Ryan Chao, President Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
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RAILS TO TRAILS FALL 2022
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