Rain Doesn't Dampen the Excitement!
First segment of the Back River Trail dedicated on National Trails Day

Wiscasset , Maine ( June 3, 2006 ) - The first phase of a 12-mile coastal trail, the Back River Trail, was inaugurated on National Trails Day. Despite a driving rain, a hearty group gathered to officially open 3.7 miles of trail on 160 acres of newly conserved land. The Back River Trail will eventually stretch 12 miles from the Chewonki Foundation environmental education center to the bustling coastal village of Wiscasset . The project is partly a result of the decommissioning of Maine Yankee Atomic Power Station, which gave 160-acre Eaton Farm to Chewonki and sold adjacent land to a developer who embraces the trail. The Chewonki Foundation has provided leadership and vision for the project and the Town of Wiscasset and Point East (the developer) are primary project partners and landowners. Through a grant from the Recreational Trails program, Maine Conservation Corps constructed the trails at Eaton Farm. The NPS Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program has provided project coordination and fundraising, as well as assistance with the creation of a kiosk, map, and sign. For more information, please contact Julie Isbill at julie_isbill@nps.gov or 207-725-5028.

Service-learning Partnership Engenders New Trail Enthusiasts
Students create and unveil interpretive display

Harpers Ferry, WV (June 3, 2006) - As part of a service-learning partnership initiated by Rita Hennessy, Acting Park Manager for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, all 165 Harpers Ferry middle school sixth-graders participated in the development of a new trail brochure. The students mapped the Appalachian Trail route through Harpers Ferry with global-positioning system (GPS) units and took notes and photographs. They developed the brochure (above) now available to the park's 300,000 visitors, from their data collection.

Impressed by the brochure project, the student council approached Rita about producing a project of their own. Together Rita, park ranger Elizabeth Kerwin-Nisbet, and teacher Assunta Wight guided the students to take notes, photographs, and trail measurements on hikes to develop the text for a park orientation poster. The students enjoyed the process, especially the field work; one student wrote: "Lying on the rocks and soaking up the sun after the hard climb was worth it. Somehow you got the feeling that all was right with the world." At an unveiling ceremony on National Trails Day, Chris Jarvi, Associate Director of the NPS, thanked the students and their teacher for their hard work. David Startzell, executive director of the Appalachian Trail Club (ATC), expressed the club's thanks with a $500 check to Joe Spurgas, Harpers Ferry Middle School principal. For more information, please contact Rita Hennessy at rita_hennessy@nps.gov or 304-535-6170.

Mountains-to-Sea Trail Joins National Trails System
Partnership-based trail receives National Recreation Trail designation

Orange County, CA (June 1, 2006) - Local city, county, land trust, and trail user group representatives convened to celebrate the designation of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail as one of the newest National Recreation Trails. The Mountains-to-Sea Trail is the first National Recreation Trail to be designated in the region in nearly two decades. The 22-mile trail extends from the natural foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains through the county and five cities to San Diego Creek and Upper Newport Bay . The trail is the result of a partnership between the cities of Anaheim , Orange , Tustin , Irvine and Newport Beach , the County of Orange , and the Irvine Ranch Land Reserve Trust to connect their respective trail segments into the backbone of a network of natural areas, parks, and recreation areas. The Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program of the National Park Service provided assistance in processing their application and participated in the celebration. For more information, please contact Anne Dove, Outdoor Recreation Planner, at anne_dove@nps.gov or 323-441-9307.

Photo: Irvine Ranch Land Reserve Trust

Connecting Place and History
A linear park system and an urban heritage trail added to network

Loudoun Co. & Alexandria, VA (June 2006) - NPS Regional Director Joe Lawler, National Capital Region, recognized two additions to the growing Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (PHNST): a 15-mile system of linear parks in eastern Loudoun Co., roughly parallel to the Potomac River, and the 23-mile Alexandria Heritage Trail, circumnavigating the City of Alexandria and 9,000 years of history. National Trails Day celebrations at a new Loudon Co. riverfront park included elected officials, county staff, and numerous volunteers who helped construct trails over the past year. At a City Council meeting in Alexandria , the mayor, members of city council, and others spoke about the value of national recognition and the importance of multi-use trails for education, recreation, and transportation. Both new segments connect with the Potomac River Water Trail, recognized by Secretary Kempthorne this month as a National Recreation Trail. For more information, please contact Don Briggs, PHNST Office, National Park Service, at 304-535-4016 or don_briggs@nps.gov . A book on the Alexandria segment can be purchased through Eastern National at www.eparks.com.

Governor Leads Celebration at Willamette River Water Trail
The second phase in a seamless system of water trails completed

Junction City, OR (June 3, 2006) - Oregon Governor Kulongoski celebrated the opening of the Upper Section of the Willamette River Water Trail on National Trails Day, with NPS officials, local and other federal officials, and more than 200 supporters joining the celebration. After the dedication, over 75 canoes, drift boats, and sea-kayaks participated in an eight mile float trip on the new water trail. The Willamette River Water Trail was a locally-based effort led by a coalition of numerous public agencies, NGOs, and private interests along the river. The NPS Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program (RTCA) and the Willamette American Heritage River Initiative (AHRI), which is supported by BLM and the U.S. Forest Service, assisted this collaborative effort by helping to convene and conduct planning sessions, involve the public, coordinate volunteers to inventory and assess public access, and develop a plan and guidebook (available at http://www.willamettewatertrail.org/ ). For more information, please contact Dan Miller, Community Planner, RTCA, at dan_miller@nps.gov or 360-816-6232.

Simultaneous Celebrations to Dedicate the 740-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail
Hundreds gather in four states

Northern Forest Canoe Trail, NY, VT, NH, ME (June 3, 2006) - NPS Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) staff joined the more than 300 people gathered at 4 simultaneous ribbon-cuttings to mark the opening of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT). The events at the Saranac River in NY, Lake Memphremagog in VT, Upper Ammonoosuc River in NH, and Moosehead Lake in ME included unveiling of new trailhead kiosks, speeches by volunteers and dignitaries, cultural events, and local paddles. River water from each of the four states was mixed in a canoe at each dedication. The events also celebrated the completion of 13 full-color maps that provide detailed route descriptions and local history, ecology, and geology information. The NPS RTCA Program worked extensively with NFCT staff and volunteers in all 4 states to create local committees, identify routes, portages and signage options, and work with volunteers to envision and gather information and images for the maps. For more information, please contact Jennifer Waite at jennifer_waite@nps.gov or 802-457-3368 ext 21.

Volunteers Kick-Off Summer with Beach Improvements on Catalina Island
Amenities and environmental protection on Ben Weston Beach

Santa Catalina Island, CA (May 25, 2006) - In preparation for the summer season, a group of 25 participants participated in a work day to enhance Ben Weston Beach, one of the most beloved places on Catalina Island for both residents and visitors. Catalina Island Conservancy board members and staff were joined by volunteers to haul more than 1800 pounds of materials down a steep trail to beach. These materials were used to add camping and day use amenities and to install protective fencing around sensitive dune habitat. This effort is the first step in implementing the Windward Beaches Concept Master Plan, which provides a framework for balancing environmental protection at four ecologically-sensitive beaches with recreation uses.

The Conservancy convened the Windward Beaches Working Group to develop a series of recommendations for the beaches. The Conservancy partnered with the National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program to develop this framework into a master plan. For more information, please contact Anne Dove, Outdoor Recreation Planner, at anne_dove@nps.gov or 323-441-9307.

Take a Hike!

Anchorage , AK ( June 3, 2006 ) - NPS Deputy Regional Director, Vic Knox, told the head of Alaska State Parks to hit the trail on National Trails Day. Every year the Secretary of the Interior designates a handful of trails from around the country as National Recreation Trails (NRT), and this year, the Indian to Girdwood Pathway was named an NRT (after nomination by Samantha Carrol, Alaska State Parks). As a resident and trail enthusiast, Vic thanked the project partners for this world-class trail and presented an NRT certificate and a surprise (an NPS bike jersey), to Jerry Lewanski, Director for the AK Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, at the ribbon-cutting for the Indian to Girdwood Pathway. Other key partners in the construction of this great new trail were the Federal Highway Administration, the AK Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, and the Department of Natural Resources. For more information, please contact Lisa Holzapfel at lisa_holzapfel@nps.gov or 907-644-3586.