The inaugural cohort of communities chosen to participate in Rails to Trails Conservancy’s TrailNation Accelerator have been announced. The new capacity-building programs will help rural and small-town communities advance connected trail networks that support safety, health, economic vitality and quality of life.
Made possible with support from the REI Cooperative Action Fund and building on RTC’s TrailNation initiative—the organization’s flagship program to accelerate the pace of trail network development nationwide through model projects, a playbook for action and a national peer network—the Accelerator connects local progress to national momentum. Through a hands-on, cohort-based experience, participants receive tailored technical assistance, practical tools and peer connections to turn trail visions into actionable, locally driven plans.
“Trails are essential infrastructure for communities of all sizes,” said Kelly Pack, RTC’s TrailNation Accelerator program director. “Through the TrailNation Accelerator, RTC is able to offer targeted support for rural and small-town communities that are ready to move from aspiration to action, giving the people who live there safe places to connect outside and inviting visitors to experience by trail all that these towns offer.”
The Accelerator is a first-of-its-kind approach to trail network development. Over the course of the year-long program, RTC will work with the cohort and adapt economic and community development strategies, like regional collaboration and investment readiness, to align vision, resources and partnerships for long-term success. By combining capacity building, technical assistance and peer learning, the program supports resilient trail network planning rooted in local priorities and equips communities to turn vision into long-term impact.
The selected cohort reflects a range of geographies and projects at different stages of connecting local trails, united by ambitious visions for essential trail infrastructure that provides safe transportation options, improves equitable access to recreation and strengthens health, mobility and local economies.
For example, an effort in Cochise County, Ariz., will examine corridors for shared-use paths, bicycle facilities and safe pedestrian routes to strengthen connections between communities, building on existing regional plans and investments. In Tennessee, partners in Johnson County are planning nearly 100 miles of multiuse trails to link communities across three states, building on decades of grassroots advocacy. A regional coalition in Illinois is advancing a connected trail vision to link multiple towns across two counties. In West Virginia and Missouri, multi-county initiatives are working to connect towns, tourist destinations and existing trails to support outdoor recreation and economic development. In Arkansas and Montana, local leaders are exploring trail connections to improve safe transportation while expanding access to outdoor recreation. Washington state partners are leveraging unique corridor opportunities to improve outdoor access in rural areas with limited public lands.
“This cohort reflects the creativity, determination and local leadership driving trail development across the country,” Pack said. “Individually, these communities reflect diverse needs and visions. Collectively, they’re places where limited resources, capacity gaps and persistent inequities really highlight the importance of tailored technical assistance and learning from one another.”
Learn more about the TrailNation Accelerator and the cohort’s projects at railstotrails.org/trailnation/accelerator.