Collective Impact: Building a Trail Collective

This webinar will include presenters from both a newly formed trails collective to a collective that has been around for a few years, providing lessons learned and valuable insights for other communities that are encouraged to do the same.

Presented by:

• Allie Maloney, Trails Coordinator, Flathead Trails Association
• Stephanie Swepson Twitty, President and CEO, Eagle Market Streets Development Corporation
• Lavita Logan, Project Coordinator for People On the Move Old Fort, West Marion Inc.
• Lisa Jennings, Recreation and Trails Program Manager, Grandfather Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest, USDA Forest Service
• Jason McDougald, Executive Director, Camp Grier

This webinar will include presenters from both a newly formed trails collective to a collective that has been around for a few years, providing lessons learned and valuable insights for other communities that are encouraged to do the same.

The Flathead Trails Association (FTA) is an evolving trails collective that is in the process of formalizing and creating programs that will connect the public to its trail partner organizations. In a landscape with high visitation and spiking population growth, the trails in the Flathead Valley of Montana are becoming more crowded with a variety of users. Our land management agencies are eager for well-trained volunteers to alleviate some of the burden of trail maintenance, and the local trail organizations want to help with trail etiquette and education. FTA will launch this fall, with a goal to help its trail partners connect with new volunteers, provide trail stewardship training, and celebrate the variety of year-round trails opportunities that can be found here in northwest Montana.

The G5 Trail Collective is a 501(c)3 nonprofit initiative powered by Camp Grier in partnership with the USFS, local communities, and recreational trail user groups. G5 stands for the Grandfather District and the 5 counties it covers – McDowell, Burke, Caldwell, Avery, and Watauga. The G5 Collective was conceived in the town of Old Fort as a solution to the lack of funding for trail maintenance and trail development projects in the Grandfather District. The working group recognized that the district is a tremendous asset and could be a driving force to help build healthy and economically vibrant rural communities. In 2019, G5 launched a pilot trail project in Old Fort, raised more than $200,000 for planning design, and permitting and watched the concept grow into a proposed 42-mile trail expansion on USFS lands surrounding the town. The first six miles of trail and a 105 space parking area are open as of 6/26/2022.​ Today, the G5 Collective and its partners Eagle Market Street Development Corporation (EMSDC), People on the Move Old Fort, the USFS, and UNC-CH have raised over $1 million to fund Phase I of trail and parking lot development. Concurrently, EMSDC has purchased two commercial real estate buildings in downtown Old Fort to serve as a business incubation hub, retail, and light manufacturing space for local entrepreneurs and businesses. This will further the goal of developing outdoor recreation resources alongside commercial and residential spaces to build a healthier and more resilient community in Old Fort.

Presenters will provide the following perspectives:

• Allie Mahoney: Provide insight on the formation of a trails collective and explain one way that a trails collective is structuring their priorities for a public unveiling.
• Stephanie Swepson Twitty: Will present her vision for integrating rural economic development with outdoor recreation
• Lavita Logan: Will share her experience as a community organizer, and how she continues to engage the local community (specifically the Black community) in Old Fort
• Lisa Jennings: Will illuminate the essential components of a successful public – private partnership to build new trails on USFS lands
• Jason McDougald: Will share how outdoor recreation development is critical to the overall health and wellness of a rural community

Learning Objectives:

• Learn insights on the formation of a trails collective.
• Learn one way that a trails collective is structuring their priorities for a public unveiling.
• Discover ways to engage the local community, keeping JEDI in mind.
• Acquire essential components of a successful public – private partnership.
• Discover how outdoor recreation development is critical to the overall health and wellness of a rural community.