The Michigan Recreation and Parks Association is having a Michigan Trails Summit on February 9th at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa.

The Summit’s theme is “Sustainability – We built it, now what do we do?”

The cost is $95 and includes a lunch. You can download the summit brochure and registration form.

Here is information on the scheduled sessions:

State of Michigan Trails

Jim Radabaugh, State Trails Coordinator – DNRE

The 2011 Trails Summit will kick off with an opening session that gives the current state of Michigan Trails. Updates will be given about the Trails Advisory Council, the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance, and the MRPA Trails Committee.

Marketing Your Trail

Wayne Hoffman, Wade Trim

Wayne Hofmann, Wade Trim’s Finance and Funding Coordinator will be presenting on how to take basic marketing techniques and use them to your advantage for your trail network.

Trail Towns Manual

Harry Burkholder, Land Information Access Association
Steve Schnell, Cheboygan County
Jim Muratzki, Land Information Access Association

This presentation will discuss a new “Trails Towns Manual” a document that describes and illustrates how communities can use a unique crowd-sourcing website to promote and encourage visitors to their trails. This document demonstrates how to support tourism, future business and economic development opportunities.

The Long and Short of Trail Maintenance

Jim Schneider, Trail Manager, Green County, OH

This presentation discusses the all aspects of trail maintenance for aggregate, concrete and asphalt trails. In addition, Jim will cover everything from the day-to-day items through long-term care. We will talk about tools and equipment for trail maintenance and offer some tips working smarter.

Lunch and Lightening Rounds

Best practices will be the theme of this lunch and learn session. Of course, there will be food but also plenty of opportunities to learn what others consider their best practices. This session will be fun but will provide lots of information to all.

Complete Streets Module

Nancy Krupiarz, Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance

Complete streets is an inclusive, context-sensitive design framework and infrastructure that enables safe and convenient access for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities and motor vehicle drivers. What does this mean to trail advocates, planners and promoters? Find out in this presentation by Nancy Krupiarz, Executive Director, Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance.

State Wide Water Trail Meeting

Mary Bohling, MSU Extension, Sea Grant

Water trails provide recreational opportunities for people to enjoy and there are unique considerations important when planning a new water trail. Join Mary Bohling, Michigan State University, Sea Grant Educator as she facilitates this meeting of advocates from across Michigan on developing a state wide water trail. This collaboration just recently formed to help promote Michigan as an outdoor paddle sport destination.

The Michigan Recreation and Parks Association is having another trails forum on Tuesday, February 3rd in Dearborn.

A list of the trail forum sessions is on-line.

The fee for those already attending the conference is $65.  For those just attending the trails forum, the fee is $105.

I will be there giving the presentation Building Urban Trails and Greenways with a collaborative effort in Detroit.

From the MRPA:

The MRPA Trails Greenways and Blueways Committee presents the 2nd state-wide trails forum.

The day long forum will consist of several case studies of successful trails. Presenters will include information specific to their trail on planning, construction and programming trails. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the successes and flaws in an educational format. Case studies include trail systems of Grand Rapids, Grosse Ille, Heart of Michigan, Detroit, Columbus, and others.

The lunch event will afford networking with trail experts.

The invited keynotes speaker of the forum is Tim O’Brien, former Vice President, Ford Motor Company. As deputy chief of staff at Ford, Mr. O’Brien was instrumental in Ford’s initiative of integrating sustainability into all aspects of its business strategy. Mr. O’Brien was the Ford Motor Company liaison in the Rouge Gateway Partnership. This public/private stakeholder group developed the Rouge Gateway Master Plan and Greenway. He championed the revitalization of the Rouge Center with its environmentally responsible manufacturing system and the largest green roof in North America. Mr. O’Brien is now an independent consultant specializing in “environmental mediation”.

Please join the MRPA Trails, Greenways and Blueways Committee for this day long forum of education and networking.

I just wanted to send a quick congratulations to the Michigan Recreation and Parks Association (MRPA) for hosting their first-ever trails conference on Tuesday in Traverse City. From what I saw and heard, it was a major sold-out success. I was especially pleased to see that the attendees included many trail stakeholders and experts who aren’t always directly involved with the MRPA.

One of the goals to come out of the conference was the need for supporting the DNR license plate fee proposal. Dr. Chuck Nelson delivered an great overview of the proposal and encouraged everyone to contact their legislators. This proposal needs grassroots support now more than ever.