Design a trail to last 100 years
Better trail planning also means more engagement and satisfaction for volunteers
By Michael Osborne Five Rivers MetroParks
he challenges of balancing ecolog- ical protection, physical manage- ment and social demands on nat- ural surface hiking, equestrian, moun- tain biking and multi-use trails can be overwhelming. However, it IS possible to meet these challenges by designing sustainable trails that are created to last into the next century. At Five Rivers MetroParks in Montgomery County, Ohio, we protect nearly 16,000 acres of forests, grass- lands, farmlands, and wetlands. The common element to all of these areas is the trail system, which includes 75 miles of hiking trails as well as equestrian trails, a mountain bike area, and 330 miles of paved trails.
T
Why trails Trails are generally an agency’s
largest infrastructure. Just one average same area as a 100,000 sq ft building— almost 2.5 acres. Studies repeatedly show that the public values trails as one
14 SPRING 2018
AmericanTrails.org
We plant trees for our grandchildren to enjoy; why should we expect any less of the trails we build?
of the most-used, appreciated, and important amenities of a park system. Designing trails in the most sustainable - cal, and social sense. A few things to keep in mind as we
get started:
to keep it to a minimum.
and must be designed in anticipation of changes to ensure they remain rela- tively stable with appropriate mainte- nance and management.
planning is satisfying visitors’ desire
To develop truly sustainable trails
there are three primary disciplines, Physical, Ecological, and Social sustain- ability. Let’s break each of these down before we put them together to design and build your trail that lasts into the next century.
Physical sustainability Physical sustainability in trails is a
It’s all about water management and ease of travel for a particular trail user type. Natural surface trails can serve a variety of user groups even though they experience expectations. However, designing a trail for any activity follows similar design tech- niques and principals. A few of the basic features that help create physically sustainable trails are rolling grade design, out-sloped tread, and avoiding fall line trails. See more on these and other valuable design elements at www.
AmericanTrails.org/resources. Physical Sustainability can be quan-
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