connect all the state capitals via a network of trails. These two groups formed American Trails, an organization that enhances all types of trails and continues to coordinate the biennial Symposium which today is called the International Trails Symposium and Training Institute. Trails for All Americans report which reemphasized the goal that all Americans be able to reach a trail within 15 minutes of home.
In 1989, the NPS established a National Trails System
program leadership position in its Washington, DC head- no time in setting up a series of information sharing meet- ings with NPS trail administrators and a few years later these meetings were expanded to include interagency coun- terparts (which became the Interagency Trails Task Force). This is the time when the System began to truly function
in the nation got a tremendous boost with the creation of the
funding through the new federal transportation law. RTP required participating states to establish multi-modal trail advisory committees to access these funds. Also in 1991 the - lished, and as the System has grown the guide has been updated numerous times.
In 1993 the former Interagency Trails Task Force was
reestablished as the Federal Interagency Council on Trails to coordinate multi-agency issues. Also in 1993 the American Hiking Society launched National Trails Day in part to cele- brate the 25th anniversary of the National Trails System. The Hill) was held to encourage trails organizations to make their case before Congress for increased funding. In 1995 the coalition of NST and NHT groups that had been meeting since 1991 formally became the Partnership for the National Trails System (PNTS). The Partnership’s prima- ry goal remains achieving better funding for the NSTs and NHTs.
By the late 1990s a variety of federal transportation pro-
grams were providing millions of dollars a year for trails and trail-related facilities. With these programs the Federal Highway Administration became a major player in trails nationwide.
In 2004 a system-wide multiagency approach to develop Geographic Information System data standards was under- taken. Before this, every state and federal agency had sepa- rate data standards and graphic symbols for trails. This team produced a matrix of trail data attributes called the Interagency Trail Data Standards, which was adopted gov- ernment-wide in 2008 and today is known as the Federal Trail Data Standards (FTDS).
PNTS developed a ten-year plan (2008 to 2018) known
as “A Decade for the National Trails” with three compelling goals: One: increase public awareness of the NTS; Two: com- plete and enhance the National Trails; and Three: build the
capacity of the organizations and federal agencies to better administer, manage, and sustain these trails. In the last chapter Steve looks to the future and instead
of predicting where the NTS may be going he leaves us with these questions that could be and should be asked of any trail project:
“System” complete?
System and should be added to it?
these trails?
cooperating together to foster the National Trails System as a multiagency enterprise?
- quately protect, operate, and publicize trails?
and volunteer to support America’s national trails?
This book has a special meaning to me as 1989 was when I started my trails career. I was able to follow along with the events and remember many of them fondly. I look back on this time and wish I had a book such as this to help put into perspective the trail projects I was involved with at the time. During my career I had the good fortune to serve Coordinator for both the Coronado and Florida National I ended my career in 2014 after serving as the Federal Administrator for the Florida National Scenic Trail. These positions allowed me to attend and participate in
many trail-related meetings, workshops, and trainings as well as hiking and biking on many trails. One of my favorite memories is helping my wife Sandra with her 2001 thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. For us trails not only provided our livelihood, they also provided us with adventure and a sense of purpose as they still do today. Be sure and get a copy of this book for yourself and a copy for your fellow trail workers. This book will not only enlighten you to the rich history of the National Trails System, it will inspire you to celebrate and champion trails as we all continue to make history together.
A Grand Experiment: The National Trails System at 50
By Steve Elkinton
2018, Palmetto Press 260 pages
ISBN -13: 978-1-64111-195-9
elksteve50@gmail.com.
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