The Way Forward the Crown Jewel of Milwaukee County’S Trail Network, the 125-Mile Oak Leaf Trail Is Showing the Way in Southeastern Wisconsin

Trails + Natural Disaster Management • Railroad Meets Rail-Trail Art • Silver Comet–Atlanta BeltLine Connector

WINTER 2020 FROM RAILS-TO-TRAILS CONSERVANCY

The Way Forward The crown jewel of Milwaukee County’s trail network, the 125-mile Oak Leaf Trail is showing the way in southeastern Wisconsin. I SUPPORT RAILS-TO-TRAILS CONSERVANCY

Debby and Jim Sharpe FROM THE STAFF Favorite Trail in the United States Canton, Massachusetts Cindy Dickerson Chief Operating Officer Each issue we highlight Allegheny Passage My favorite trail is the Four Mile a member or supporter (gaptrail.org) with 300 of our Run Trail, located just outside of Washington, of our national trail new best friends. D.C., in neighboring Arlington County, Virginia. Stretching for just 6 miles, this community trail community. Special We then continued, self- isn’t the longest or most spectacular trail, but thanks to Debby and Jim supported, on the C&O it’s my trail and that’s why I love it. Sharpe for supporting Canal Towpath all the way The trail mirrors my life—running as fast as America’s rail-trails! to Washington, D.C. We even I could along the trail in my fitness-focused spent a night in a lockhouse. years, to countless miles of leisurely pushing What we do We arrived in D.C. on our a stroller, to toddler and grade school years We are retired, having sold 34th wedding anniversary enjoying the playgrounds adjacent to the trail, our manufacturing business very muddy. Our hotel orga- then teaching my kids to ride their own bikes 10 years ago. Now we each nized a hose for us outside and learn all the rules of the trail. spend one day per week car- the front entrance! These days, I find myself walking with my ing for our 5-year-old grand- route and experienced free- girlfriend for just a half-mile as she regains twins. Debby is chair of our Favorite rail-trail in dom from my parents and her strength after breast cancer treatment, or power walking in the early morning with town’s Walk, Bike & Hike Massachusetts the community. The hardest my sister when she’s in town. I almost always Committee and treasurer of The Phoenix Bike Trail/ part was the steep hills in our see someone I know, but occasionally it’s our temple. Jim teaches en- Mattapoisett Rail Trail, neighborhood; only now do I quiet, and if I’m lucky I’ll spot a deer or two. near our summer house in realize they were actually just trepreneurship to executives But always, l leave restored and grounded as I and also serves as a mentor Mattapoisett. We’ve ridden slight inclines! make my way off the trail and back up the hill for young entrepreneurs. it since our children were in to my house. a trailer, and this summer Next big rail-trail trip— Favorite inspirational quote our grandchildren graduated and why FEATURED LETTER TO THE EDITOR Debby: “Life is not fair.” from their trailer and pedaled We have a goal of riding So Many Trails to Explore Jim: “A desk is a very it under their own power. We coast to coast—but our This summer my husband and I did a bucket dangerous place from which hope that within our lifetime many trips have left us with list vacation for five weeks—during which we to watch the world.”—John it will connect all the way to a gap in the middle, which rode a different rail-trail every day. It was just le Carré the Cape Cod Canal along is daunting. We’re thinking the best. We rode two different parts of the Katy Trail in Missouri, the High Trestle Trail in rail-trails. maybe Pittsburgh to Chicago Iowa, the Mickelson Trail in South Dakota, and Person we admire next fall. the list goes on. Peter Sargent, a college A meaningful life story We headed north after fabulous trails in Debby: My mother and Why trails are so important friend who owned a bike Idaho, with our farthest point being Tofino, Brit- shop and introduced us to siblings and I often biked to communities ish Columbia. Leaving Tofino, we headed south RTC and the East Coast around town when I was a They provide safe, scenic, through Oregon and Utah and then back to our Greenway Alliance. He and kid. When I was 14, I headed relaxing walking and riding home in Memphis. Our lodging ran the gamut his wife, Karen MacGregor, out of town too far, and it experiences for all ages and from high-end B&Bs to modest cabins. first inspired us to bike with was too late to ride back. I abilities. Their routes bring It was the best trip we could imagine, but our children. called my mom, who picked us along the “back part” of so many people we have talked to think these me up without complaint. the cities and towns that trips are unattainable. Nonsense! It is some- Favorite rail-trail in the I started riding farther with have special character. thing every family—anyone—can do! P.S. When a moose crosses a bike trail country more planning. I’m still riding, right in front of you, getting a photo is most Our most memorable usually with a plan. Why we support RTC important! rail-trail experience was on Jim: I bought my first bike RTC helps make rail-trails • Bev and Terry Trojan, Memphis, Tennessee an RTC sojourn on the Great with money from my paper happen!• Thank you, Bev and Terry, for sharing your Add your unique voice to the rail-trail movement by becoming a member of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. inspiring story on America’s trails!

Learn more about us at railstotrails.org, or call 202.331.9696 for info. PHOTOGRAPHY NOURSE JENNY AT RODMAN MOLLY COVER STORY 12 The Way Forward Milwaukee County’s Oak Leaf Trail The Oak Leaf Trail is the crown jewel of the Milwaukee County trail system, connecting urban, suburban and rural neighborhoods with the region’s extensive system of green space and parks, local businesses, and some of the most notable cultural sites in Wisconsin. By Cory Matteson

18 23 24 29 Trails Forecast: Tracie Sanchez: A View From … Destination New Resiliency and Repair Connecting Trail Michigan’s Great Mexico: Santa Fe As natural disasters continue Developers in Georgia Lake-to-Lake Trails Rail Trail to increase across the As founder of the Georgia Experience Route #1 in Just like out of a Johnny country, trail managers are Trail Summit, Tracie Michigan’s Great Lake-to-Lake Cash song—the Santa Fe Rail recognizing the need for Sanchez is creating and Trails network—a 275-mile Trail will make you feel a little solutions to help mitigate the maintaining a collaborative route connecting Lakes Wild West, with its stunning economic, environmental and environment for trail Michigan and Huron—through New Mexico landscapes, infrastructural impacts and developers and stakeholders this snowy wonderland trail trestle bridges and colorful ensure long-term resiliency from across the state. pictorial in honor of winter. history from the days of the in their communities. Royal Gorge Railway War. By Danielle Taylor By Laura Stark By Scott Stark By Robert Annis

DEPARTMENTS Left // I Support Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Debby and Jim Sharpe (Massachusetts) Left // From the Staff/Featured Letter to the Editor 02 // Point of View 03 // RTC Quarterly Report 04 // Emerging Rail-Trails Silver Comet Connector (Georgia) 06 // Best Of Railroad Scenes From America’s Rail-Trails ON THE COVER: Wisconsin’s 27 // Infrastructure News Richmond-San Rafael Bike and Pedestrian Path (California) Oak Leaf Trail near the 28 // Trailside Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage Trail (Alabama) Milwaukee Art Museum Photo by Front Room 32 // Trail Tales Granite State Gets a New Cross-State Adventure Trail (New Hampshire) Photography Inside Back Cover // Featured Map Oak Leaf Trail (Wisconsin) FRONT ROOM PHOTOGRAPHY ROOM FRONT POINT OF VIEW

Rails to Trails is the magazine of CONNECTING AMERICA LIKE NEVER BEFORE Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to With Rails to Trails magazine, we try to share the diversity of our country’s vast trails and the creating a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines and connecting people behind them. But if there’s one thing you’ll find consistent in nearly every story, it’s how corridors to build healthier places for trails connect us. In the most literal sense, they serve as a means to get from place to place, and healthier people. figuratively, trails grant us deep and meaningful connections to each other and to nature. As I RTC was incorporated in 1985 as a nonprofit charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) conclude my first year at Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), I’m grateful to have met and drawn of the Internal Revenue Code and is a publicly inspiration from people all across America who are working to provide their fellow citizens with supported organization as defined in Sections 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) and 509(a)(1). A copy of the invaluable connections through trails. current financial statement, or annual report, and state registration filed by RTC may be obtained In Milwaukee, at the center point of the Route by contacting RTC at the address listed below. of the Badger trail network—a developing 700- Donations to RTC are tax-deductible. Rails to Trails is a benefit of membership in mile RTC TrailNation™ project in southeastern RTC. Regular membership is $18 a year, $5 of which supports the magazine. In addition to the Wisconsin—the 125-miles-plus Oak Leaf Trail magazine, members receive discounts on RTC embodies the meaning of connectivity (see page gifts and publications. Rails to Trails is published four times a year—three in print, one digital—by 12). The trail provides a special connection to RTC. Milwaukee’s natural treasures, including its wind- Copyright 2020 Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. ISSN 1523-4126. Printed in the U.S.A. ing path along Lake Michigan. It connects the neighborhoods that give Milwaukee its personal- ity and its soul. And it provides deep personal connections for the hundreds of thousands of people who explore the trail each year. In Atlanta, the expansion of the Silver Comet Trail to connect with the Atlanta BeltLine (see PRESIDENT page 4)—and the connections this expansive trail system will make across state and city lines, Ryan Chao and between urban and rural communities—is inspiring. It’s a testament to the joy that trails BOARD OF DIRECTORS bring and the enthusiasm that exists for their potential. This trail connection will unlock incred- M. Katherine Kraft, Ph.D., chair; Joseph L. Barrow Jr.; Jon Cofsky; Mark A. Filippell, J.D.; Vanessa ible opportunities for the estimated millions of people who use the trail each year, and the mil- Garrison; Rose M. Z. Gowen, M.D.; Noel Kegel; Gail M. Lipstein; Charles N. Marshall; Douglas Monieson; lions who have yet to experience it. Frank Mulvey, Ph.D.; Timothy Noel, Ph.D., CFA; Tom These trails, and what’s happening in all of RTC’s TrailNation projects and with the Great Petri; John Rathbone; Rebecca Riley; James F. Sallis, Ph.D.; Guy O. Williams American Rail-Trail™, represent opportunities to connect the nation by trail in new and exciting ways. But in the midst of this momentum, trails and active transportation infrastructure face new MAGAZINE STAFF VP OF COMMUNICATIONS and unexpected challenges. The last decade saw significant weather events that have become Brandi Horton increasingly devastating and frequent. And the havoc these storms dealt to communities across EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Amy Kapp the country also impacted their trails (see page 18). LEAD WRITER AND EDITOR For some, it will be a long road to rebuild. But it’s also an opportunity to consider the role that Laura Stark EDITORS trails play in protecting our climate: By getting people out of their cars and into nature, we create Wendy Jordan, Sharon Congdon new bonds to the outdoors, we decrease carbon emissions, and we increase physical activity. DESIGN/PRODUCTION Trails are but one part of a systemic solution to climate change, but the role they play is one for Bussolati which all of us in the trails movement can be proud. RAILS-TO-TRAILS CONSERVANCY I might be wrapping up my first year at RTC—but we’re all embarking on a new decade. For the HEADQUARTERS 2121 Ward Court, NW, 5th Floor trails and active transportation movement, there is much optimism about what the future holds. Washington, DC 20037-1213 PHONE 202.331.9696 In every state and across more than 36,000 miles of multiuse trails, we see firsthand how trails EMAIL [email protected] are anchors in their communities—delivering health, climate and economic benefits. We see how WEBSITES railstotrails.org, TrailLink.com FIELD AND REGIONAL OFFICES trails connect people to each other and reconnect many with nature. We see how trails provide MIDWEST Yellow Springs, OH 614.837.6782 equitable opportunities for recreation and transportation. We see the power of connecting [email protected] NORTHEAST Philadelphia, PA 267.332.4267 America by trail like never before. [email protected] WESTERN Oakland, CA 510.992.4662 [email protected] FLORIDA Tallahassee, FL 866.202.9788 See you on the trail! [email protected] TEXAS Brownsville, TX 956.338.1800 BALTIMORE Baltimore, MD 410.207.2445 MILWAUKEE Milwaukee, WI 414.688.4367

POSTMASTER Ryan Chao, President SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO Rails to Trails, 2121 Ward Court, NW, 5th Floor Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Washington, DC 20037-1213

2 RAILS TO TRAILS WINTER 2020 LEFT TO RIGHT: LEE SMITH; FRONT ROOM PHOTOGRAPHY; TRAILLINK USER VIKASHD123; PAUL F. NEUMANN; COURTESY MISSOURI ROCK ISLAND TRAIL, INC. What We’ve BeenUpTo health and economic benefits of health andeconomicbenefits of released the latest dataabout the Annual Economic Impact Wisconsin Have $1.5 Billion Study Finds Trails in [email protected]. Contact: Kevin Mills, trailstransform. Learn more: railstotrails.org/ states impact. formaximum and between communities and investing intrail connectivity within infrastructure—with afocus on Congress to invest inthis vital than $138.5billion. grow the annualreturn to more infrastructure connectivity could $34 billion+;and2) that improving climate andeconomicreturns) of infrastructure (includinghealth, connected walkingandbicycling annual return oninvestment from infrastructure—found: 1) acurrent and other active transportation direct economicvalue oftrails climate protection, mobility, and data about health costsavings, infrastructure. other active transportation on investment oftrails and the current andpotential return America,” whichdemonstrates “Active Transportation Transforms the results ofits national study, In fall2019,RTC publiclylaunched Transportation inAmerica Vision forActive RTCReleases Transformative Transportation inAmerica Vision for Active RTC Releases Transformative RTC to isurging tell supporters The study—whichaggregates Madison, Wisconsin, RTC On Dec.3,2019,in

Annual Economic Impact Wisconsin Have $1.5Billion Study FindsTrails in [email protected]. Contact: WillieKaridis, org/badger project. Learn more: railstotrails. behindthe developing ary Badger president ofRTC andthevision- Champion, Keith Laughlin,former 2019 Doppelt Family Rail-Trail during acelebration forRTC’s these outcomes. potential to significantlymaximize in SoutheastWisconsin,hasthe the Badger TrailNation™ project such asthe700-mileRouteof and completingtrail networks, which suggeststhatdeveloping America studymethodology, Active Transportation Transforms trails inthestateisbasedon $833 million. and health costs avoided ofa user spendingof$686million $1.5 billion,includingdirect trail- trails inWisconsinisasmuch annual net economicimpact of trails inthe state, whichshowsthe connectivity. The planwillfocus will have thegreatest impact on to identify andfundprojects that a statewide trails planthat seeks by thestate legislature inJune) for Cuomo signedlegislation (passed New York Campaign, Gov. Andrew York ofthe aspart Trails Across by RTC andParks & Trails New of acoordinated advocacy effort In November 2019,onthe heels Trail Network Legislation forStatewide New York Historic PutsForth The findingswere released The analysisoftheimpact .

Network Legislation for Statewide Trail New York Puts Forth Historic

[email protected]. Contact: Andrew Dupuy, empire-state-trail. year. Learnmore: ptny.org/explore/ billion inconsumer spendingper economy, currently generating $41 burgeoning outdoor recreation the benefits of the state’s already State Trail couldhelpcompound million visitors annually, the Empire 750 miles. tion by 2020andencompassing Empire State Trail, set forcomple- for the network—the developing on leveraging—as amajor spine American Rail-Trail™, a 3,700-mile to hasten completion oftheGreat residents alongits path. and quality oflife outcomes for tation, anddelivers economic a significant impact on transpor connects millionsofpeople,has 326-mile Ohioto Erie Trail, which outlined inthe vision—suchasthe complete the state’s trail networks to political leadershipnecessary ners discussedhowto deliver the trails plan:theOhio Trails Vision. to move forward thenewstatewide TourismOhio to discussstrategies ofHealth and Ohio Department ofNatural Resources, Department and representatives ofthe Ohio the OhioLegislative Trails Caucus Trails gathered with Partnership In October 2019, RTC andthe Ohio Trail VisionInto Reality Leadership inOhioto Turn RTC StandsWithState With the potential to host8.6 potential the With The state trails planalsoseeks During theevent, RTC andpart WINTER 2020RAILS TO TRAILS Trail VisionInto Reality Leadership inOhioto Turn RTC Stands WithState - - RTC QUARTERLY REPORT [email protected]. Contact: BrianHoush, Washington State. between Washington, D.C., and 12 states, includingOhio,onapath nect the District ofColumbiaand cross-country route thatwillcon- eric@ Contact: EricOberg, to be$18million+ annually. nomic impact, whichisestimated as amultiplier forthe Katy’s eco- ing more than 450miles,andserve Trail to form atrail system stretch- Trail wouldconnectwith the Katy submitted to thestate to date. comments infavor ofthe trail has includedmore than 30,000 for the trail, which public support demonstrate the overwhelming have helped other localpartners Missouri RockIsland Trail, Inc.and alongwith mobilization efforts along the route. to nearly two-dozen communities providing transformative benefits toward railbanking the corridor and ment marksahistoric step forward inMissouri. Beaufort The agree- pathway connectingWindsor and Island Trail, a144-mileproposed ofAmeren)subsidiary for theRock souri Central Railroad Company(a terim trail-use agreement with Mis- announced that ithadsignedanin- ofNatural Resources Department In December 2019,the Missouri Island TrailRock Historic StepforFuture State ofMissouriAnnounces When complete, the Rock Island When complete, the RockIsland Over the past five years, RTC railstotrails.org. Island Trail Historic Step for Future Rock State ofMissouri Announces

signed by nearly 4,000citizens to In 2017,theCTC delivered apetition lawmakers and thegeneral public. oftheproject to plify theimportance docket, theCTC volunteers helpam staff andalotoftrail projects onthe tion since2013.WithPATH’s small advocating fortheproject’s comple the Comet(CTC) group hasbeen build thenewrail-trail, theConnect metro region. develop multiusetrails intheAtlanta cofounded thenonprofit in1991 to executive director, Ed McBrayer, who radar foralongtime,according to its has been onthePATH Foundation’s these twonationallyrecognized trails org burgeoning Atlanta BeltLine(beltline. Trail (silvercometga.com ) andthe Georgia, thefamed Silver Comet rail-trails important innorthwestern few milesseparate twoofthemost project thatjustmakes sense:Onlya The Silver CometConnector isa BY LAURASTARK BeltLine moves forward. Silver CometTrail to thedeveloping Atlanta The stars alignasaproject to connect thefamed Georgia’s Silver CometConnector EMERGING RAIL-TRAILS 4 PATH’sSupporting to efforts

), whichringsthecity. Connecting RAILS TO TRAILSWINTER 2020 - - inducted into the Rail-Trail Hall landscapes inthe South,were through someofthemostscenic Chief Ladigatrails, whichpass try. Together, theSilver Cometand paved rail-trail routes inthecoun Trail creates one ofthelongest Alabama’s 33-mileChiefLadiga Comet’s seamlessconnectionto three times. begins, hasalready beenexpanded County, where thenewconnector at itseasterntrailhead inCobb for thetrail thattheparkingarea there’s beensomuchenthusiasm ers eachyear. McBrayer notesthat border, sees about2milliontravel- Smyrna, Georgia, to theAlabama 61.5-mile pathway, stretching from to Atlanta seemsindisputable. The decades, extendingthetrail down Comet Trail over thepasttwo attention to theeffort. the Georgia StateCapitol to draw Across thestateline,Silver Given thesuccessofSilver -

PHOTO CREDIT County). Atlanta (Fulton Olympic Park in and Centennial (Cobb County) Trail inSmyrna the Silver Comet eastern endof lies between the The rail-trail Connector Silver Comet 10.6 miles CSX Railroad Connector Silver Comet look ofthe proposed showing the SURFACE: LENGTH: CORRIDOR: USED RAILROAD LOCATION: PHOTO: CONSTRUCTION: TRAIL UNDER Concrete Graphic

and Stranger Things. Walking Dead,TheHungerGames used asafilminglocationfor The strikingsettinghaseven been rounded by beautifulgreen space. formed into awaterreservoir sur for thecity’s streets, isbeingtrans - pit, originallyusedto provide granite complete. mining The century-old will beAtlanta’s largest parkonce Westside Park atBellwoodQuarry 2020. At 280acres, thedeveloping park that’s slatedto openinspring new trail willalsotieinto amajor needs. al andtransportation conduit formeetingbothrecreation- able to easilyreach thecity—atrue ban CobbCountyresidents willbe busy roadways. Conversely, subur underseveralsafe route thatskirts incredible assetwithoutacaron residents andtourists to reach this forcity will provide theopportunity Atlanta atCentennialOlympicPark, project, whichwilltieinto downtown of Fame in2009. The connector and gobblesup someofthat gets thetrail closerinto the city line conveyed to thestate,which getting 2.3milesofunusedrail road, andthey were successful in built-up metropolitan area. greatly speedsupitsprogress inthe use forabouthalfthetrail’s length preserved rail corridoravailable to pleted inthree to fouryears. Having that thewholetrail willbecom into place,and McBrayer estimates the puzzlehave beenrapidly falling brooch!” this significantparkislike addinga liaison to PATH. “Theadditionof parks,” said Tony Aeck,theCTC would runthrough theseexisting old rail alignment,the22-mileloop, necklace,’ andtheideawasthat Line wasreferred to asthe‘emerald “The originalconceptoftheBelt ontop isthatthe The cherry “Georgia worked withCSXRail- Within thelastyear, piecesof

The -

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WILDERNESS PRESS 5 1 9 7 6 9 5 8089 9 97 8970 10.6 miles,” McBrayer explained. “At PHOTO: Connect WILDERNESS PRESS the southern end, Atlanta BeltLine the Comet volunteers [Inc.] purchased an abandoned rail advocating for that runs out of downtown toward the trail the Westside; it’s a little less than 2 miles long. Those two things together made us try to finish up the center of it and connect the dots to “We have railstotrails.org/shop complete the trail.” supported To buoy this work, PATH is ral- PATH all these lying the support of the private years because philanthropic community. In 2021, we have seen the organization turns 30, and in how PATH recognition of the milestone, the trails make organization launched the “Mile 300” Atlanta a campaign with the goal of reaching better place 300 miles of trail built by PATH dur- for everyone ing its three decades of service. So to live. They Renew your vital is the Silver Comet Connector improve our to the region that it’s the centerpiece quality of life, membership and of the campaign. Already, $6 million encourage keep supporting has been donated by the Atlanta- healthy the trails you love. based James M. Cox Foundation; lifestyles and in the press release announcing get people the donation, PATH trails were said outside to “make Atlanta a better place for connecting everyone to live.” with each McBrayer notes that there’s been other and no opposition to the Silver Comet our city.” Connector. “We’ve built so many trails in the metropolitan Atlanta area that everybody understands Jim Kennedy, them now.”• Chairman, Cox Enterprises/ railstotrails.org/renew Learn more about the project at Chair, “Mile 300” pathfoundation.org and Campaign

OPPOSITE PAGE: COURTESY PATH FOUNDATION; THIS PAGE: COURTESY CONNECT THE COMET THE CONNECT COURTESY PAGE: THIS FOUNDATION; PATH COURTESY PAGE: OPPOSITE connectthecomet.org.

WINTER 2020 RAILS TO TRAILS 5 BEST OF

Railroad Scenes From America’s Rail-Trails

BY JAMES D. PORTERFIELD

Created by some of America’s leading railroad artists, the stunning pieces of artwork featured here remind us of the exciting and important work that once unfolded daily on rail-trails throughout the United States. Enjoy! © GIL BENNETT GIL ©

Winter Pumpkins

GIL BENNETT - OIL, 22" X 28"

Completed in 1908, the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Idaho boarder. Today this scene is part of the Route About the Artist: Paul & Pacific Railroad—the Milwaukee Road—was of the Hiawatha (ridethehiawatha.com), which Gil Bennett (gilbennett.com) is America’s last transcontinental railroad. A latecomer connects the Idaho-Montana border to Pearson, acclaimed for his meticulous to such service, the railroad had to traverse some Idaho. Adjoining trails can add up to 43 miles to research and attention to of the most rugged and remote terrain in the Pacific create a trip through some of the most beautiful and detail in his art. His work reflects specific locomotives Northwest. To do so, it installed more than 650 miles remote rail-trail scenery in America. Of the painting, and trains set in the of electrified right-of-way and employed some of the Bennett said, “I wanted to paint a Little Joe in the challenging environments largest electric locomotives of the mid-20th century. snow. I placed the time in the late 1960s–early in which they once operated Here, artist Gil Bennett portrays one of these, 1970s, when Joes were paired with diesels to cut day in and day out. nicknamed the Little Joe, aided by three SD-40-2 down on the time it took to change locomotives at diesels, in the Bitteroot Mountains near the Montana- electric serve endpoints.”•

6 RAILS TO TRAILS WINTER 2020 BEST OF © JOHN WINFIELD, COURTESY CHRIS BURGER CHRIS COURTESY WINFIELD, JOHN ©

Down by the Station

JOHN WINFIELD - ACRYLIC, 20" X 30"

About the Artist: This painting portrays a scene that would have been land Division. That depot still stands and is at the John Winfield typical of activity around a rural depot anywhere in north end of the 11.2-mile Three Eagle Trail (winfieldart.com), who mid-20th-century America. Commissioned by Chris (3eagletrail.com) in northern Wisconsin. The trail has been commissioned Burger, a collector, it is based on a photograph Burg- extends, in two pieces, to Three Lakes. by working railroads, historical societies, book er once took at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum The equipment portrayed, the locomotive, the publishers and private in North Freedom, Wisconsin. Burger’s photograph gas-electric Doodlebug, even the depot and the collectors nationwide, is did not include the gas-electric Doodlebug, but he’d people shown, are typical of what Eagle River and a career graphic artist. The work’s owner, Chris always been a fan of them and asked the artist, railroads of the pre-diesel era everywhere were like. Burger, donated signed John Winfield, to include it. And both Doodlebugs and locomotive No. 1385 and numbered prints of Because a Doodlebug would not have called on worked in northern Wisconsin. this work to the C&NW Historical Society to give to North Freedom, the decision was made to place the The entire scenario is a celebration of branch and members of its “400 Club,” scene at the Eagle River, Wisconsin, depot on the short-line railroading and their role in knitting the who donated $400 or more Chicago & North Western’s (C&NW’s) former Ash- nation together.• to the organization.

WINTER 2020 RAILS TO TRAILS 7 BEST OF © JAMES MANN JAMES ©

Allegheny Portage Railroad

JAMES MANN - WATERCOLOR, 22" X 30"

The 36-mile Allegheny Portage Railroad was part of Tunnel, America’s first railroad tunnel, located on the About the Artist: Pennsylvania’s 361-mile Philadelphia-to-Pittsburgh west side of the Allegheny Mountains at the crest James Mann (jamesmannartfarm.com) Main Line of Public Works. A canal and railroad of incline no. 1. An unusual double-track turntable comes from a strong project built between 1824 and 1834, it gave Phila- at the East Portal rotates a Norris locomotive and architectural background, delphia access to the Ohio River Valley. The railroad tender for a run east, while the horses that pulled “with impressionist tendencies.” He is partial to connected Hollidaysburg and Johnstown using five the train through the tunnel rest. The completion of farming, farm machinery, inclines on each side of the Allegheny Mountains. the Pennsylvania Railroad’s nearby Horseshoe Curve locomotives and “the poetry Stationary engines moved barges temporarily placed in 1854 brought an end to the Allegheny Portage of machinery in motion.” on wheel carriages up and down the mountains. Railroad in 1857. This setting is part of the Allegheny A horse- or steam-powered railroad moved them Portage Railroad National Historic Site near Gallitzin. between the inclines. The 11.8-mile Path of the Flood Trail/Staple Bend James Mann illustrates another historical feature Tunnel Trail (rtc.li/Path-Staple) provides access to of this operation, the 901-foot-long Staple Bend the site and is intended in places for hiking or biking.•

8 RAILS TO TRAILS WINTER 2020 BEST OF © CHRIS OLDHAM CHRIS ©

On the Lake

CHRIS OLDHAM - WATERCOLOR, 13" X 17"

For artist Chris Oldham, this one’s personal. “I have including the restored 1872 Wolfeboro depot, two About the Artist: pounded out quite a few miles on the Cotton Valley short causeways over portions of Crescent Lake Chris Oldham (chrisoldhamart.com) is a Rail-Trail (cottonvalleyrailtrail.org), depicted here,” and Lake Wentworth as you depart Wolfeboro, and self-taught artist who has said Oldham. He might add that the 12-mile trail con- an old turntable in Sanbornville on the eastern end loved drawing and painting necting Wolfeboro with Wakefield, New Hampshire, of the trail near Wakefield. Oldham’s art portrays a his entire life, and has been “intensely interested” is historic. Built in 1871, it was once the Wolfeboro Boston & Maine freight running along Fernald Basin in trains since he was a boy. Branch of the Boston and Maine Railroad. on Lake Wentworth, east of Wolfeboro. The route He strives to both evoke Unusual for the fact that rails are still in place was acquired in 1985 by New Hampshire for use as nostalgia for the railroad on stretches of its route—the area between them a trail. Back to the personal: “I painted this picture environment and capture the excitement of a passing train. filled to accommodate recreational use—the trail is for my wife,” Oldham said. “It depicts a location near promoted as ideal for four seasons of activity. The where my mother lives and where my family has bucolic route features historical railroad structures, spent many happy days while visiting.”•

WINTER 2020 RAILS TO TRAILS 9 BEST OF © ANDY ROMANO ANDY ©

CNJ 4-6-0 Camelback at Atlantic Highlands – Circa Late 1940s

ANDY ROMANO - DIGITAL PAINTING USING COMPUTER SOFTWARE, 24" X 17"

The 22.5-mile Henry Hudson Trail (rtc.li/ track “wye” that enabled turning trains at Atlantic About the Artist: Henry-Hudson-Trail) occupies remnants of the Highlands-Sandy Hook to stop without a turntable. Andy Romano (trainutz.com), a retired Central Railroad of New Jersey’s former Seashore The trestle was demolished by a storm in the 1940s, California resident, has Branch. Built over a 40-year period, between 1840 and the Seashore Branch was rerouted inland along created many railroad and 1880, the railroad became disused in the 1950s, the coast, establishing the present-day route of paintings, including those featuring the Central allowing for the eventual creation of the trail. the trail. Railroad of New Jersey. The trail follows former right-of-way along the Divided into two sections near its midpoint by These celebrate his Raritan Bayshore, from the marina below the bluffs New Jersey’s Garden State Parkway, the trail is childhood memories of travel on the railroad’s of Atlantic Highlands, seen here in the background. nonetheless continuous by virtue of an on-road Seashore Branch during Also shown is a CNJ 4-6-0 Camelback locomotive route connecting the sections. It ends at Popamora summer vacations along the hauling a passenger train north on a wood trestle. Point Park in the town of Highlands, directly east of Raritan Bayshore. The trestle once served as one leg of a three-legged Atlantic Highlands.•

10 RAILS TO TRAILS WINTER 2020 BEST OF © SHAYNE STOAKES SHAYNE ©

Harriman’s Dream

SHAYNE STOAKES - ACRYLIC, 24" X 36"

Idaho’s 34-mile Railroad Right-of-Way Trail (rtc.li/ the fall, sorted in the corals, and shipped by rail About the Artist: Railroad-Right-Of-Way) runs between a camp- to market. Shayne Stoakes (railartbyshayne.com) ground near Ashton, Idaho, and the Montana state The setting shown here is adjacent to the trail. intends for his work to line southwest of West Yellowstone, part of a former In 1908, the railroad’s owners approached E. H. inspire you to experience railroad branch line created between Idaho Falls, Harriman, then chairman of the Union Pacific his scenes and to recall a simpler time. He witnessed Idaho, and West Yellowstone. The Harriman State Railroad, about buying the ranch. Harriman, noting this scene as a 6-year-old Park in Island Park, Idaho, was originally part of the premium grazing land, amazing waterfowl and when he accompanied his the Oregon Short Line’s “Railroad Ranch.” It was unbelievable fishing found there, purchased the grandfather to the site, established in the 1890s, when the Island Park Land property sight unseen. The last roundup occurred and owns a restored Chevy pickup truck like the one and Cattle Company started grazing cattle there. in fall 1971. The rail route beyond Ashton was that took them there. Livestock was shipped over the trail’s former rail disused in 1979, and the rails were removed in 1981. route to the Island Park siding, shown here, to graze Today, trail promoters describe it as “encapsulating in the spring, and was rounded up by horseback in everything Idahoans love about Idaho.”•

James D. Porterfield is the director of the Center for Railway Tourism and the American Society of Railway Artists. He is also the author of “Dining by Rail: The History and the Recipes of America’s Golden Age of Railroad Cuisine” and a regular contributor to Railfan & Railroad.

WINTER 2020 RAILS TO TRAILS 11 WISCONSIN THE WAY FORWARD MILWAUKEE COUNTY’S OAK LEAF TRAIL BY CORY MATTESON

The Oak Leaf Trail is the crown jewel of the Milwaukee County trail system, connecting neighborhoods with the area’s extensive green space and some of the most notable cultural sites in Wisconsin. Learn more: rtc.li/Oak-Leaf-Trail. (View a map of the trail on the inside back cover.)• Length: 125+ miles County: Milwaukee Endpoints: E. Michigan Street at N. Art Museum Drive (Milwaukee) and W. Brown Deer Road (Brown Deer) or W. Oakwood Road (Oak Creek) Trail Uses: Walking, biking, inline skating, cross-country skiing; wheelchair accessible

12 RAILS TO TRAILS WINTER 2020 MILWAUKEE COUNTY’S OAK LEAF TRAIL WISCONSIN

On Nov. 2, 2019, I got on a bike and hopped on the red line, i.e., the South Shore Line, one of the seven main branches of the Oak Leaf Trail (rtc.li/Oak-Leaf-Trail) that stretches 125+ miles in two twisting loops in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. The frigid temps in Milwaukee meant that a full loop-de-loop was out of the question, but I wanted to see a part of what is considered the crown jewel of the county’s trail system, blending urban, suburban and rural scenery. THE WAY FORWARD The Oak Leaf Trail envelops greater Milwaukee and leads riders and runners along much of the area’s “emerald necklace” of parks and green space. It also annually guides hundreds of thousands of trail users to signature spots like the Urban Ecology Center at Riverside Park, Milwaukee Art Museum and the Ghost Train—an art installation in the Village of Shorewood that twice nightly turns a trail bridge into a Twin Cities 400 locomotive of yesteryear. The South Shore Line begins mentioned South Shore Terrace by a yacht club and a beer Kitchen and Beer Garden, where a garden—more on that über fire pit thankfully roared on the last Milwaukee detail shortly—and Saturday of the season. It was a rolls along the coast of Lake great place to eat a cheeseburger Michigan through five of the topped with a bratwurst—because county’s 150+ parks. I ventured of course that’s on the menu in to the northern entryway of the Milwaukee. southernmost one, Grant Park, “The Oak Leaf is tied to so and was rewarded with a 20-mile much Milwaukee activity,” said round trip that passed through South Shore bartender Kathryn dense woodlands, hugged some Humphreys, who helped plan the shoreline and led to suburban “Ride to Krampusnacht,” held on Milwaukee. Even on a wintry the Oak Leaf Trail in December. day, I passed by more than one During this popular local event, park bench occupied with people Milwaukee residents deck them- huddled together, gazing out at selves out in wicked costumes the Great Lake. to commemorate the Alpine Then it was back to the afore- holiday when both Saint Nick

WINTER 2020 RAILS TO TRAILS 13 THE WAY FORWARD

THE OAK LEAF TRAIL OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND BREATHTAKING VIEWS OF LAKE MICHIGAN’S MILWAUKEE BAY ALONG A SECTION OF TRAIL NEAR THE MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM. and Krampus the Christmas demon visit kids. The plan called for a parade of costumed riders on bikes and even floats to take over a part of the trail that night en route from a coffee shop to a beer hall. Only in Milwaukee. Her co-worker Katrina Kazik said her fitness club also uses the Oak Leaf to take regular midnight rides to Grant Park on “full-ish moons,” though no costumes are involved on those trips. No doubt, it’s a happening trail. I’ve been told that in the summer, the line to order a beverage at the Miller 1855 Bar at the South Shore Ter- race can stretch seemingly the length of Lambeau Field, across the path of the Oak Leaf Trail and down to the edge of Lake Michigan. That’s set to improve next year, as the former bathhouse-turned-summer hotspot is the subject of an expansion project. “We joke about this, but every year when we do the opening in March, it’s snowing like crazy but we get hundreds of people there,” said Milwaukee County Parks Director Guy Smith. Smith said that the beer gardens have become go-tos for many trail users, and the department’s mobile beer gardens make sure that many for Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC). “Trails offer low- neighborhood parks become destinations. stress, easy, safe places to ride. And that’s why we’re so big on expanding the trail network, making it better.” Connectivity = Mobility On average, about 489,000 individual trips are taken Like the park system, beer gardens were an early cor- annually on one lakefront segment in the densely popu- nerstone of the Milwaukee experience, a key link to the lated Lower East Side of the Oak Leaf Trail, Smith said. German heritage that many of the city’s settlers shared. And more than 356,000 individual trips were taken in the They shuttered during Prohibition and vanished for Shorewood (population 13,162) area, too. more than a century until 2012, when Milwaukee County “The Oak Leaf is definitely my go-to,” said Alex Zacher, Parks opened the first public beer garden in America at a bike and ski technician at Ben’s Cycle in Lincoln Village. Estabrook Park. “I do the Hank Aaron Trail as a go-to as well. You want to The park is the southeastern starting point of the Zip 489,000 go for a longer one, start here, go up north, hit up Tosa, Line, named for Harold “Zip” Morgan, an avid cyclist and No. of individual check out the cute little downtown. Ride out to the lake, longtime Milwaukee municipal director of athletics who trips annually ride down south, ride back in. Very, very accessible. Easy in 1939 led a bike tour across 64 miles of what would on a lakefront to follow. Easy for people to understand. And you kind of segment of the become the 76 Freedom Trail, and then Oak Leaf Trail. Oak Leaf Trail get the wide breadth of the city.” (Jill Rothenbueler Maher’s 2019 book, “Milwaukee County’s Tosa, by the way, is short for Wauwatosa, a neighbor- Oak Leaf Trail: A History,” and a recent Milwaukee Maga- ing city that Ben’s Cycle owner Vince Hanoski has been zine article by Matthew Prigge chronicle that early ride riding to with the same group for the past nine years. in rich detail.) The Zip Line provides a traffic-free straight 356,000 “We brought someone as a guest and he said, ‘Let’s go No. of individual shot on a piece of converted former Chicago and trips annually in (another) way.’ He was never invited back,” joked Hanoski. North Western railway to Brown Deer Park, where trail the Shorewood On the Oak Leaf Trail, advocates and officials are hav- users can continue to the Brown Deer Trail area of the trail ing “very, very preliminary” discussions about possible (rtc.li/Brown-Deer) and the Ozaukee Interurban Trail trail options along the 30th Street industrial corridor, (interurbantrail.com). Smith said. “The No. 1 reason why people don’t ride is because “I’ll be the first to say [the] 30th Street corridor [project] they don’t feel safe,” said Noel Kegel, co-owner of Wheel has to happen,” said Kate Nelson, chief sustainability & Sprocket with his sister Amelia, and a board member officer at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. “With

14 RAILS TO TRAILS WINTER 2020 MILWAUKEE COUNTY’S OAK LEAF TRAIL

700+ miles of trails running east–west from Milwaukee FUN FACT: PLANTING THE SEEDS to Dousman and north–south from Sheboygan to Keno- The Oak sha—with potential to build even bigger connections to Leaf Trail OF CONNECTIVITY Chicago, Madison and maybe even Minneapolis. “It’s the opportunity to plan on a grand scale,” Willie was initially The seeds that grew into the Oak Leaf Trail were argu- Karidis, Route of the Badger project manager, said. “It’s named the ably planted in the late 1800s, when Milwaukee’s leaders very doable. People are working together. Cities are 76 Trail pushed for a substantial increase in park space. working together.” in 1976, “They were called sewer socialists,” said Noel Kegel, when it had co-owner of Milwaukee’s Wheel & Sprocket. “Milwau- Finding the Way kee had socialist mayors for about 50 years in the 20th Guy Smith began his career at the Milwaukee County expanded to century. And as part of the city planning, they wanted to Parks Department in 2004 as its first trails coordinator, 76 miles. integrate lots of green space. You had a tempering influ- a fitting position for someone who grew up in the city ence on that turn-of-the-century robber-baron tycoon and rented inline skates with his brother at Veterans industrialist. And then in the 1970s, the Oak Leaf Trail Park to cruise lakeside portions of the city’s sprawling was envisioned to connect the green space.” Oak Leaf Trail. Viewed on its own, the Oak Leaf Trail runs an im- For years, according to those interviewed, many pressive 125+ miles through urban, suburban and rural found the area’s grandest trail hard to follow—or even portions of greater Milwaukee in what looks like a giant, find. The Oak Leaf Trail got its name in 1996 after two droopy figure eight when viewed upon a trail map of decades spent as the 76 Trail, and Milwaukee County the county. Parks installed scores of directional signs on the trail But why view it on its own? The Oak Leaf Trail now of- as it grew and connected to others like the Hank Aaron PHOTO: A section of the Oak Leaf fers westbound connections to Waukesha and beyond on State Trail (hankaaronstatetrail.org), Beerline Trail Trail near Lake the New Berlin Trail, northbound to the Ozaukee Interur- (rtc.li/Beer-Line-Trail) and Kinnickinnic River Trail (rtc.li/ Michigan’s ban Trail and on to the Sheboygan Interurban Trail. And Kinnickinnic_River_Trail). Milwaukee Bay the Hank Aaron State Trail neatly divides the northern The signs helped point travelers in the right direction, and southern segments of the Oak Leaf, providing an but didn’t necessarily suggest the scope of something east–west connection to the trail. More connections are planned as Wisconsin—birthplace of what many consider the country’s first rail-trail, the Elroy Sparta State Trail— works to connect the 700-miles-plus Route of the Badger, a Rails-to-Trails Conservancy TrailNation Project™ in the southeast that will link these and other trails and enable Oak Leaf Trail riders to connect to Kenosha, Racine, Madi- son, Chicago and potentially beyond.•

what we have on the East Side and downtown with the Oak Leaf Trail, we’re privileged to have this. And we couldn’t even imagine an East Side and downtown without it. So why would we not think that other communities deserve just as much of an asset and a green space and a connector?” And someday that connectivity could have a reach extending even farther afield—as the Oak Leaf is also included in the ambitious Route of the Badger (railstotrails.org/badger) regional trail system. When

ALL PHOTOS: FRONT ROOM PHOTOGRAPHY ROOM FRONT PHOTOS: ALL complete, the RTC TrailNation™ project will connect

WINTER 2020 RAILS TO TRAILS 15 THE WAY FORWARD

that had its own passport. In Smith’s first years with “[My dad] made it very clear; trail the Parks Department, Noel Kegel’s father Chris, parent systems like this only exist due to of four, then-owner of the Milwaukee-based Wheel & “The Oak Sprocket bike shop and a tireless cycling advocate, told decades of planning and cooperation. Leaf is my him that the Oak Leaf could be so much more inviting. It’s the long game, he’d say. Plant the go-to. ... “One of the first things he said to me is, ‘We need to seeds, and in a couple of decades, you You kind have a better wayfinding system for the Oak Leaf, and not only for our residents and folks that live in Milwau- might get lucky and get a trail. This of get kee County, but for the visitors that we have from all the wide over,’” Smith said. insight has always stuck with me.” Name a trail or bike group in Wisconsin and beyond— Amelia Kegel on her father, trail advocate Chris Kegel, in a foreword for breadth of Jill Rothenbueler Maher’s “Milwaukee County’s Oak Leaf Trail: A History” Wisconsin Bike Fed, People for Bikes, the League of the city.” American Bicyclists, the International Mountain Biking Alex Zacher, Association, Milwaukee County Trails Council—and For bike commuters like Nelson, the Oak Leaf Trail Bike/Ski Chris Kegel was likely a leader, member or supporter. provides a vital part of her path from her Bay View Technician, Kegel could be a goofball, as his starring roles in Wheel home to work, during which she feels like she’s earned Ben’s Cycle & Sprocket’s slapstick local TV commercials showed, every lakefront sunrise she witnesses. Each fall, she but he strongly believed that a third of his job centered leads new UWM students on an eye-opening introduc- around advocacy. At the bike shop, a mantra developed: tory trail trip, proving to some commuters that a ride Bikes make the world better, so we need to make to class is worlds more feasible than finding parking on the world better for bikes. That included Milwaukee’s a city campus. signature trail. “I couldn’t get through downtown and the East Side without the [Oak Leaf Trail],” she said. “I would have never attempted it, and I’m a firm believer that route PHOTOS: Three of the 30 new wayfinding signs along the Oak is everything.” Leaf Trail made possible by the Chris Kegel Foundation and But when Nelson was in college during the late 1990s, inspired by the foundation’s namesake, a tireless bicycling advocate who passed away in 2017 she lived about 20 feet from the trail and didn’t know it, she admitted. “You have an amazing trail that no one knew how to use,” said Amelia Kegel. “Every year, the wayfinding was just something that we couldn’t put our heads around.” Then, in the fall of 2016, Chris Kegel was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of liver cancer. A week after the diagnosis, over a thousand people gathered to ride 12 leisurely miles along the city’s Hank Aaron State Trail, a “slow roll” in his honor. He died the next Febru- ary, and his obituary called for loved ones to donate to the Chris Kegel Foundation, “established by the family to continue Chris’ commitment to improving lives by providing greater access to bicycling.” The first major project that the Chris Kegel Foundation spearheaded can now be seen all along the Oak Leaf Trail—a set of 30 wayfinding signs, with more to come, that show trail users not only where they are, but all the places where a trip on the Oak Leaf can lead them. REI provided funding for four more wayfinding signs. All 34 were developed with input from the Milwaukee County Parks Trails Council, Wisconsin Bike Fed and Milwaukee

16 RAILS TO TRAILS WINTER 2020 L MILWAUKEE COUNTY’S OAK LEAF TRAIL

County Parks staff. At a June press conference in Lin- coln Park, Milwaukee County Parks officials thanked the sign fundraisers, as well as Sprecher Brewery, which announced a Pedal to the Park series that provided funding for Oak Leaf Trail improvements. Then many attendees went for a group ride to check out the new kiosks. “We spent a lot of time with our team over the years putting in improved signage, the actual trail signs,” Smith said. “What really came to fruition over the past couple of years under the leadership of [Chris Kegel’s daughter] Amelia and the foundation that they set up was they funded 30 new trail kiosk signs. They’ve continued to raise additional funds, and we’ve also appealed to other folks as a kind of challenge. Can you help us improve this?” Milwaukee County Parks and the City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works recently teamed together with Toole Design to develop a unified design for wayfinding signs along 15 high-priority miles of city routes and Oak Leaf Trail. Amelia Kegel, who sits on the Milwaukee County Trails Council, said this second phase will help build an identity for each of the Oak Leaf Trail’s segments. A public survey of design options concluded day,” she said. “It was like, ‘Let’s make this one the blue PHOTO: The in October, and the final design plan is scheduled to be in one, and this one the green one.’ Because you just have Oak Leaf Trail is a popular place by April 2020. to make it easy for people. You have to make it palat- pathway for In a foreword for Maher’s book, Amelia Kegel wrote able. [Riding] 120 miles to the average rider, it’s just recreation, active about how her dad coaxed her into joining him on early- overwhelming. I’m not going to do 120 miles, but I can transportation morning weekend rides, and how amazed she was by their do a 10-mile segment that goes along this area.” and physical activity in first trip on the Oak Leaf Trail when she was 10. Ian Everett, marketing and communications manager Milwaukee “I could not believe that there was a place where people at Milwaukee County Parks, designed the signs with his County. could walk and ride in such peaceful bliss,” Kegel, now 32, home of London, England, and specifically the Under- wrote. “Over the years, we explored many of the differ- ground transit system, in mind. “It’s what I used all the ent segments together. Along the way, he explained how time,” he said. “People get a sense of pride of the line these systems were created. He made it very clear: Trail they go on, or their station. We wanted to develop that systems like this only exist due to decades of planning with the Oak Leaf Trail as well.” and cooperation. It’s the long game, he’d say. Plant the The signs also include English and Spanish explana- seeds, and in a couple of decades, you might get lucky tions of trail etiquette, as well as space for sign spon- and get a trail. This insight has always stuck with me.” sors. Securing public-private partnerships in Milwaukee On Nov. 1, 2019, she and I tromped through fresh County, which faces a $28 million budget shortfall in snow in Milwaukee’s vast 628-acre Whitnall Park to 2020, is a key component of many projects there. a spot along the Oak Leaf Trail where one of the new Amelia Kegel said collaboration led to the project’s Cory Matteson wayfinding signs stands. On one side was a trail-encom- success. The foundation raised money for the signs, is a freelance passing map that depicted the trail like a subway which were designed by Everett with the assistance writer and system. Divided into 11 lines, connectors and loops, of GIS experts who happen to be Wisconsin Bike Fed communications specialist at the the system breaks down the Oak Leaf Trail into digest- members. University of ible, color-coded segments. We were on the orange “I really think Milwaukee is one of these towns where, Nebraska. Root River Line. when you do good and you do good with others, then

ALL PHOTOS: FRONT ROOM PHOTOGRAPHY ROOM FRONT PHOTOS: ALL “I think it was my dad that just highlighted them one things bubble up and magical things happen,” she said.•

WINTER 2020 RAILS TO TRAILS 17 TRAILS FORECAST: RESILIENCYRESILIENCY ANDAND REPAIRREPAIR BY SCOTT STARK

As natural disasters such as floods and tornados continue to increase across the country, trail managers are recognizing the need for new solutions to help mitigate the economic, environmental and infrastructural impacts and ensure long-term resiliency in their communities.•

18 RAILS TO TRAILS WINTER 2020 TRAILS FORECAST: RESILIENCY AND REPAIR

In 2018, the most recent full-year picture, the United States suffered 14 separate $1 billion-plus weather and climate disasters, the fourth-highest on record—and the top three all occurred within this decade. RESILIENCY Not all of these events impacted trails, of course, but to trail-goers and the businesses that rely on them, storm-related damage is a big—and perhaps growing—concern. PHOTO: Houston’s Bayou Greenways trail system Expert consensus is that a warming planet will invari- was designed to anticipate ably lead to more extreme weather events, and Tom flooding and built to be Sexton, northeast regional director for Rails-to-Trails underwater at times. AND REPAIR Conservancy, notes that even setting aside big-picture climatic changes, modern trail engineers operate in a very different landscape, quite literally, than the railway engineers of yore. Every structure that water cannot penetrate—every road, parking lot, driveway and big-box store—in the entire watershed contributes to the amount of water that finds its way unchecked downhill. “The reason for these floods is likely based in climate change, but it’s exacerbated by water-impervious layers,” said Sexton. “It’s a two-part process.” This one-two punch is putting trails and their infrastructure to the test. “What we used to think of as once- in-a-lifetime storms and floods are coming more often now, and trails are in the crosshairs,” said Sexton. That’s true both across the country and in Sexton’s Northeast region. Referencing a recent federal study, Sexton noted that flooding is America’s most common disaster “and the crosshairs are pointing at trails.” Half a country away, Trent Rondot of the Houston Parks Board said that even with his city’s efforts to promote green spaces and embrace the natural flood control abilities of its bayous, Houston experiences more frequent flooding these days. “As the city has grown and there’s more concrete and much less natural area to absorb water, we’re seeing more flooding now than we did 20 or 30 years ago. We basically have a 100- year flood every single year,” said Rondot. From hurricane-induced flooding to rivers overflowing their banks following torrential rains, trails across the country have suffered damaging storm after storm. These are a few of their stories—tales of disaster,

(SPREAD) ANTHONY RATHBUN, COURTESY HOUSTON PARKS BOARD; (INSET) COURTESY HOUSTON PARKS BOARD PARKS HOUSTON COURTESY (INSET) BOARD; PARKS HOUSTON COURTESY RATHBUN, ANTHONY (SPREAD) recovery and resiliency.

WINTER 2020 RAILS TO TRAILS 19 TRAILS FORECAST TRAILS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE BEING IMPACTED BY INCREASED FLOODING BROUGHT ON BY GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES.

Water, Water Everywhere: Nebraska’s Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail Nebraska was in the middle of what was categorized as a 500-year flood this March. A winter’s worth of heavy snowfall had blanketed the Wyoming and Montana watershed that feeds Nebraska’s Elkhorn River. “It got warm really quick and started melting the snow,” explained Alex Duryea, a recreational trails manager for the state of Nebraska. “That filled up our rivers, but we still had thick ice on them” that blocked the water from easily flowing downstream. Then came weeks of rain. “It was a perfect storm,” Duryea said. “It just all came at once.” PHOTO: The Cowboy Trail fell victim to a 500-year flood in March 2019—a combination of melting snow in the Wyoming The Cowboy Trail, where it parallels the Elkhorn and Montana watershed and weeks of rain that washed out the between the towns of O’Neill and Norfolk, was hard hit. approach to this bridge across the Elkhorn River. “Limestone surfacing was washed away; deep cuts—two feet or so—were made in the trail down to the ballast. The water overwhelmed our drainages and culverts,” damage, “It’ll be a few years until the trail is all put back said Duryea. In one area that had been built up by the to rights,” said Duryea. former railroad above the surrounding land, a 4-foot diameter culvert was completely blown out. “Now there’s Economics of Storms: Missouri’s Katy Trail a hole in our trail 100 feet long and 45 feet deep.” At 240 miles, the Katy Trail in Missouri spans nearly the And the water kept coming. “We had three or four more entire breadth of the state. Not only the longest devel- floods after we got the original FEMA [Federal Emer- oped rail-trail in the United States, the 2007 Rail-Trail Hall gency Management Agency] funding,” said Duryea. “May of Fame inductee (railstotrails.org/hof) is also one of through August we kept getting more damage. We’d fix $1.3 the oldest and a significant economic driver. Wineries, MILLION something but then it would erode away again. Every time Cost of restaurants, bed-and-breakfasts, hotels, bike shops and I went out, there was something new.” cleanup along more line the route that draws an estimated 400,000 The flooding was a good test of the trail’s infrastruc- Houston’s Bayou visitors a year. One study pegged the trail’s economic Greenways ture, though. An important segment of the Great Ameri- following impact to Missouri at nearly $18.5 million a year, so can Rail-Trail™ (greatamericanrailtrail.org), the Cowboy Hurricane when a third of the trail was left underwater this sum- Trail has more than 200 bridges along its entire length, Harvey mer, it had a statewide effect. many of which are repurposed railroad bridges and most According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the impact of which are wooden. “They were built to take the load of of the Katy’s flood-related closures was far-reaching, in- a train,” said Duryea. “They’re pretty stout—but they’re also $18.5 cluding businesses reporting significant financial losses, MILLION a hundred years old.” shops temporarily closing to mitigate the impact of the Estimated Duryea was happy to report that while many bridges economic impact reduced number of trail users, and even the cancelation sustained damage by debris hurtling along in the flood- annually of the of a significant state-sponsored event, the Katy Ride, waters, none were lost. Bridge approaches didn’t always Katy Trail in which is an economic driver for many small businesses Missouri fare so well, though: Duryea noted one span in particular along the route. where the sinuous Elkhorn shifted course, taking out the One of the thousands of businesses affected by the approach and necessitating a new river crossing. “We’ll 14 flooding was Kim’s Cabins on the western end of the have to build a bridge to get back to our old bridge.” No. of separate trail, where the Rock Island Spur meets the Katy. Since $1 billion-plus By late 2019, many lengths of the trail had been opening the first cabin four years ago, owner Kim Hen- weather and repaired to a usable condition, but most of the major climate disasters derson has steadily grown her business. The Katy, Hen- repair work still lies ahead. Officials would like to per- that took place in derson said, has been an economic lifeline. “It shows manently reroute parts of the trail particularly prone to the United States what can happen to a small town when the shoe factory in 2018 flooding, but budget constraints render that more of a is gone, when rail is gone,” she said. The message is one wish than a solid plan. With an estimated $9 million of she’s also brought to the state capitol.

20 RAILS TO TRAILS WINTER 2020 RESILIENCY AND REPAIR

WHAT ARE THE ODDS?

Floods are often described as 100-year floods or 500- year floods as a reflection of the expected likelihood of their occurrence. If each year carries a one-in-five Trail Hall of Fame inductee, the Tanglefoot meanders “We hundred chance of the devastating event taking place, nearly 44 miles through the foothills of the Appala- basically the cumulative expectation is that the event will happen chian Mountains. Situated far enough inland that it’s once in a 500-year span. These figures were developed spared the worst of hurricanes barreling in from the have a from centuries of weather data, and while they’re meant Gulf of Mexico, it’s nonetheless at the mercy of the 100-year to reflect statistical probabilities rather than calendar- local weather they often produce as a result. “When based certainties, it’s becoming increasingly clear that a hurricane comes in from the south, we get breakoff flood global environmental changes are forcing a reconsidera- thunderstorms that produce tornados,” said Randy Kel- every tion of these measurements. ley, executive director of the Three Rivers Planning and A recent study by Princeton researchers found that Development District. “And we seem to be having more single 100-year floods could become annual occurrences in of them in recent years.” year.” New England; along the southeast Atlantic and Gulf of Having avoided any hurricane-induced storms in Trent Rondot, Mexico shorelines, they may happen every 30 years. 2019, major springtime rainstorms wreaked havoc Conservation “The historical 100-year floods may change to one-year along the trail nonetheless. Culverts were destroyed, a and Maintenance Director, Houston floods in Northern coastal towns in the U.S.,” said Ning bridge was washed out, sections of the trail collapsed, Parks Board Lin, associate professor of civil and environmental engi- and waterlogged soil led to entire trees crashing down neering at Princeton University. across the path. “Sycamores will hold up to anything,” Marshall Shepherd, director of the atmospheric sci- said Kelley. “Oak trees, not so much. And the trail? It’s ences program at the University of Georgia and a former surrounded by oaks.” president of the American Meteorological Society, said Ronnie Bell, Three Rivers’ division director, explained that 100-year floods are becoming frequent enough that it was a 22-mile stretch around the trail’s midpoint the term “is pretty much useless now as a baseline for that took the brunt of the damage, including a section an extreme event.”• between Pontotoc and New Albany that’s heavily used by locals and visitors alike. “Two out-of-state bike clubs PHOTO: The canceled their visits since they couldn’t access the Houston Parks Board provides Business was good enough, in fact, for Henderson to entire length of the trail,” said Bell. “We took phone calls green spaces leave her job as a town administrator for Windsor and and social media inquiries from all over,” he continued. along the Bayou devote herself full time to Kim’s Cabins. So when the “The Tanglefoot is really popular, and people were eager Greenways that provide Missouri River started overflowing its banks, Hender- to get back on it.” Bell lamented the impact its closure complementary son took notice. Located a good 50 miles from where undoubtedly had on the local economy with the loss of flood control by the trail takes its leave of the Missouri River and veers business from would-be trail users. keeping the land water-permeable. southwest, Henderson’s cabins weren’t in any direct danger from the floodwaters, “but as far as people visiting … I had people staying in three cabins on a Saturday night. They were going to ride the whole trail, but a few days before they were supposed to arrive, they called up. ‘There’s just too much damage,’ they said. ‘We’re not coming.’ And bam! They’re gone.” It was a story that repeated itself time and time again as overnight guests canceled their plans to ride the Katy. And yet, Henderson considers herself one of the fortu- nate ones, and did what she could to support business owners not so lucky. “Most businesses on the trail are small businesses. Supporting each other is what we do.”

Affecting Locals and Visitors Alike: Mississippi’s Tanglefoot Trail

OPPOSITE PAGE: ALEX DURYEA, COURTESY NEBRASKA GAME AND PARKS COMMISSION; COURTESY HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT CONTROL FLOOD COUNTY HARRIS COURTESY COMMISSION; PARKS AND GAME NEBRASKA COURTESY DURYEA, ALEX PAGE: OPPOSITE One of Mississippi’s longest rail-trails and a 2019 Rail-

WINTER 2020 RAILS TO TRAILS 21 RICKEY JAGGERS, COURTESY PONTOTOC MCEM clean itupand we’re backinbusiness.” milestones. “Thewatercomesupanddeposits silt.We Flood, HurricaneImelda—they assoggycity allserve Hurricane Harvey, theMemorialDay Flood,the Tax Day 1930s thatresulted inretention reservoirs westoftown.” said Place.We hadmajorfloods backinthe1920sand “Houston hasalways flooded—it’s acontinuingsaga,” ofHoustonhistory offighting againstwater. isahistory anticipate storms.” inches deepwithasubstantialsubgrade. It’s builtto isa10-foot-wideconcrete trail“Our typicalsurface six justdon’tthose surfaces holdupinfloods,” saidPlace. the Bayou Greenways oftheplan. are allpart a floodprotection purpose.” Andthetrails thatmake up upgraded thatfunctionality. “They’re engineered to serve Harris CountyFloodControl District hasaddedto and tion ofabayou,” heexplained,saying thatHouston’s Board. “Accommodating floodwaterisanatural func ing director ofcapitalprograms fortheHouston Parks projects to anticipateflooding,” saidChipPlace,manag- attimes.“Wewas builtto beunderwater designour it’s therule;trail system liningHouston’s bayous Flooding isn’t theexception attheBayou Greenways— Key to Resiliency: Texas’ Bayou Greenways wouldn’t have afunctionaltrail,” saidKelley. the saving grace we ofthetrail. “Ifnotfortheirsupport, by inmatesthatdemonstrate goodbehavior hasbeen ofaprisonrelease programthat theworkdoneaspart looking forward to receiving funding, butsays FEMA operate onalimitedbudget.Ashoestringbudget.” He’s ofrebuilding, “butwe ernment hasbeensupportive TRAILS FORECAST 22 Trent andmaintenance direc Rondot, conservation - Listening to Place,onecomesto understandthat the “Runners may prefer asofter crushed-stone trail, but Executive Director Kelley statedthatthelocalgov - RAILS TO TRAILSWINTER 2020 RESILIENCY ANDREPAIR - should begoing.” river, astheDutch say. We thinkthat’s adirection we sponge-like function.“We needto make room forthe with thelandandletbayous theirnatural perform to managingstorms, emphasizing theneedto work Place generally takes alessadversarial approach keeps to thelandfrom water.” becomingimpervious parks. They provide floodcontrol that complementary space alongitspathways. “We thinkoftheseas linear the Houston Parks Board alsoworksto purchase green as expensive.” When you dothosekindsofcostcomparisons,it’s not we’re getting80milesoftrail finishedwith themoney. said. “Thatcouldbuyyou 1mileoffreeway in Texas, but spending $220millionto completetheGreenway,” he hugging trail networkischeap, concedesPlace.“We’re able,” saidRondot. flood cleanup by nowthatthey are somewhatpredict- cover from catastrophic events. “Butwe’ve doneenough and aspecialreserve setasideeachyear andusedto re- fund forroutine cleanupafterrun-of-the-millflooding, two different fundingpools: There’s theusualspending spent $1.3million.” The solutionforHouston hasbeen $200,000 incleanup.When[Hurricane]Harvey hit,we year withoutasignificant event, wespend$100,000– can make accurate budgetingdifficult.“Inan average been nostructural failures.” and even cars.We losetrash canlids—butthere have of siltanddebrisleftbehind. There are shoppingcarts structural failures oftrails orbridges. There’s mountains engineered. Floodafterflood,hesaid,“We’ve hadno about howwelltheBayou Greenways wasdesignedand tor fortheHouston Parks Board, waxes enthusiastic In additionto itstrails mission,Placeexplainedthat Neither buildingnormaintainingHouston’s bayou- natureRondot saidthatthewidelyvarying offloods • of thetrail. collapsed sections out abridgeand culverts, washed that destroyed rainstorms major springtime was damagedby the Tanglefoot Trail longest rail-trails, Mississippi’s PHOTO: country. across the explores trails the twoashe combining Stark enjoys native Scott rider, Colorado A writeranda Oneof PROFILE

Tracie Sanchez Connecting Trail Developers in Georgia

BY DANIELLE TAYLOR

As founder of the Georgia Trail Summit, Tracie Sanchez trail network in the South. The Georgia Trails Alliance created a collaborative environment for trail developers aims to provide information, training and advocacy and stakeholders from across the state. Today, she con- to people who nurture and grow trails and lead the tinues to advocate for trails as a board member for the development of Georgia’s trail network. Georgia Trails Alliance (georgiatrailsalliance.org) and as tourism product development manager for the Georgia Trail building has picked up significantly throughout Department of Economic Development. She spoke with Georgia due to your work. What benefits have Rails to Trails magazine about trail developments in the you seen? Peach State and the importance of working together More communities are ready to implement trail net- toward these common goals. works and send elected officials to workshops to learn how. NIMBYism is declining, and trail builders’ phones Why was the Georgia Trail Summit formed, and are ringing off the hooks. MTB Atlanta has seen an how did it form the Georgia Trails Alliance? increase in volunteers eager to serve on trail build or In 2013, I queried why Georgia didn’t have a Rails-to- maintenance days. Additionally, the summit brought Trails Conservancy (RTC) chapter or champion for trail attention to water trails around the state and has served efforts. Kelly Pack, RTC senior director of trail develop- as a platform for communities to learn about developing ment, suggested I hold a summit to round up the stake- successful water trails. holders, so I invited my trail family colleagues to help plan mobile workshops on the trail, classroom time and Construction is underway to connect the Silver networking in a trail-friendly community where we could Comet Trail and the Atlanta BeltLine into a 105-mile showcase local efforts. The Georgia Trail Summit is now trail. How do you think this will impact the region? an annual event to convene Georgia’s trail community We believe visitors will linger longer on lengthy trail sys- and share knowledge, accelerate trail building progress tems, community events will activate the trails and spur and create connectivity. exercise and other quality-of-life components, locals Once the summit was off the ground, the [summit] will discover trails suitable for a commute or a weekend board members updated our nonprofit name to Georgia staycation, and trailside-business development trends Trails Alliance and our mission to policy, consulting and will increase the economic impact. The connection will Danielle Taylor is a mapping. The summit is now facilitated by the Georgia likely empower Cave Spring, Rome and Chattanooga freelance journalist chapter of the Trust for Public Land. to connect to this trail network as well (see the Silver who focuses on Comet Connector story on page 4). outdoor recreation, conservation, public What are GTA’s biggest successes and lands and travel. long-term goals? What advice do you have for trail developers on Follow her work on Our main success is in establishing a statewide network working with/learning from fellow stakeholders? adventureeditorial. com, Facebook @ of organizations that share information and work Site visits—take stakeholders on field trips to trail adventureeditorial or together for the benefit of Georgia’s trails. We were also communities to see the quality-of-life enhancements Twitter @adventureedit. instrumental in updating Georgia Department of Natural and economic impact. Also, community engagement Resources policy to allow Recreational Trails Program remains a priority. One must involve the community not grant funding to be awarded directly to nonprofits. only to get buy-in but also to raise awareness of the data

COURTESY TRACIE SANCHEZ TRACIE COURTESY Long term, Georgia is developing the best statewide supporting trail trends.•

WINTER 2020 RAILS TO TRAILS 23 A VIEW FROM ...

Michigan’s Great Lake-to-Lake Trails Route #1

BY LAURA STARK

It’s no secret that Michigan is a great trail state, hosting more than 2,400 miles of rail-trails, and developing exciting trail networks like the Great Lake-to-Lake Trails (greatlaketolaketrails.org), which is building momentum. The initiative includes plans for five routes connecting dozens of trails across the state. Showcased below are just a few of the many rail-trails to be explored in Route #1, which spans 275 miles across the entire Lower Peninsula from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron. And as a nod to winter, we thought we’d feature some of the snowy wonderlands to be found there this season.

The cross-state route gets off to a great start with the Kal-Haven Trail, which begins in South Haven on the shores of Lake Michigan. From there, the crushed-stone pathway heads 34 miles east, connecting a handful of charming Midwestern towns and traveling through open farmland and canopied woodlands on its way to Kalamazoo, where a refurbished caboose serves as a visitor center. In the winter, the trail—managed by the state’s Department of Natural Resources (michigan.gov/dnr)—can be enjoyed for cross- country skiing and snowmobiling. THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE PAGE TOP: WILLIAM DOLAK; OPPOSITE PAGE BOTTOM: COURTESY MICHIGAN DNR MICHIGAN COURTESY BOTTOM: PAGE OPPOSITE DOLAK; WILLIAM TOP: PAGE OPPOSITE AND PAGE THIS

KAL-HAVEN TRAIL SESQUICENTENNIAL STATE PARK

24 RAILS TO TRAILS WINTER 2020 TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE AND OTHER TRAILS, CHECK OUT TRAILLINK.COM. A VIEW FROM ...

KALAMAZOO RIVER With vibrant Kalamazoo at its center and forested trail spiraling out to the city’s east, west and north, the Kalamazoo River Valley VALLEY TRAIL Trail offers the best of both worlds: a scenic quiet experience, plus lots of urban amenities. Operated as a Kalamazoo County Park (kalcounty.com/parks/krvt), the trail is a true outdoor gem; the nearly 21-mile paved pathway connects several parks and winds along its namesake river for much of its journey. When the snow hits, the trail is not plowed, so it offers a winter’s paradise for nonmotorized uses such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

MIKE LEVINE LAKELANDS TRAIL STATE PARK

A panoply of picturesque backdrops keeps this 26-mile rail-trail experience fun: lush woodlands, rolling farmland, creeks, small ponds, a chain of lakes, wildlife-rich marshes—it’s all here. Located in southeast Michigan, the Mike Levine Lakelands Trail State Park (michigan.gov/dnr), named after one of the state’s trail champions, is bookended by two small towns, Munith and Hamburg (north of Ann Arbor). In winter, it’s a popular spot for cross-country skiing.

WINTER 2020 RAILS TO TRAILS 25 A VIEW FROM ...

The Huron Valley Trail offers a pleasant natural escape tucked into the Detroit suburbs. The 12-mile paved route forms a “Y” shape anchored by South Lyon (southlyonmi.org) on its southern end. Connecting several parks, this community gem provides access to many recreational amenities for residents and visitors, including sports facilities, picnic shelters, swimming opportunities and a golf course. With its close proximity to neighborhoods, it makes a great option for getting out of the house in the winter for a brisk walk or ski.

HURON VALLEY TRAIL

CLINTON RIVER TRAIL

Spanning 16 miles, the Clinton River Trail connects a handful of cities between Sylvan Lake and Rochester in the north Detroit metro area. Paralleling and FROM TOP: DOUGLAS M. VARNEY; COURTESY FRIENDS OF THE CLINTON RIVER TRAIL RIVER CLINTON THE OF FRIENDS COURTESY VARNEY; M. DOUGLAS TOP: FROM frequently crossing its eponymous waterway, the rail-trail provides an escape into nature for residents by connecting them to parks and other green space. Celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2019, the trail is a well-established local favorite. Volunteers with the Friends of the Clinton River Trail (clintonrivertrail. org) often host outings on the pathway, including community events to ski, snowshoe or take a snowy hike in the winter.

26 RAILS TO TRAILS WINTER 2020 INFRASTRUCTURE NEWS

San Francisco Bay and comprise a major portion of the Bay Area Trails Collaborative’s regional network. The western approach to the Rich- mond-San Rafael Bridge bike and pedestrian path in Marin County is one of 13 projects prioritized by the collaborative as critical for complet- California ing the larger trail network project. Richmond-San Rafael Bike and Pedestrian Path Cultivating Project Success Opens Across the San Francisco Bay When the Bay Area Toll Authority approved the trail in 2015, it did so as a BY BEN KAUFMAN AND MARY ELISE CONZELMANN, WITH CONTRIBUTIONS BY AMY KAPP four-year pilot project, during which the trail will remain open to cyclists

In November 2019, trail advocates was fully accessible to pedestrians PHOTOS: California and pedestrians 24 hours a day, and residents in California celebrat- and bicyclists before this year. Thus, bicycle advocates seven days a week, to bolster evalu- ed the opening of the Richmond-San the Bay has long represented a major celebrating the ation efforts and measure usage opening of the Rafael Bridge bike and pedestrian barrier to people wishing to traverse for both commuting and recreation. Richmond-San path (rtc.li/Richmond-San-Rafael)— the region by modes of transporta- Rafael bike and Data collection and analysis efforts a new 5.5-mile, fully protected tion other than automobiles. pedestrian path are being spearheaded by Caltrans walking and bicycling trail paralleling After years of advocacy from on Nov. 16 and the University of California Part- I-580 and connecting the cities of local active-transportation groups, ners for Advanced Transportation Richmond and San Rafael in the including Bike East Bay and the Technology (PATH) program. San Francisco Bay Area. The new Marin County Bicycle Coalition, the Project partners are working to trail—coming after two decades of Bay Area Toll Authority approved the improve neighborhood access to advocacy and more than a half- Richmond-San Rafael Bridge bike the trail through connecting bicycle decade of development efforts— and pedestrian path project in 2015, infrastructure projects, wayfind- signifies an exciting milestone in and local advocates worked closely ing signage and local bikeshare California trail history, as people can with the Metropolitan Transporta- programs. In an effort to support now safely walk and bike between tion Commission (MTC) to help increased bicycle usage along the the North Bay and East Bay for the generate support for the project and new pathway, the City of Richmond first time ever. ensure its implementation—culmi- is working with Gotcha Mobility to The new path also makes con- nating in a Nov. 16 opening. distribute 250 shared e-bikes to 25 nections to several important seg- “This is a major milestone for local stations. These e-bikes will be ments of a proposed 2,700-mile trail trail users in the region,” said Laura available for short-term use for a network in development through Cohen, western regional director for fee, with discounts for low-income the Bay Area Trails Collaborative RTC. “Not only are we finally bridg- residents to ensure equitable usage. (railstotrails.org/batc), a Rails-to- ing the gap between the North and LEARN MORE Marin County is also exploring its Trails Conservancy (RTC) TrailNa- East Bay, but we’re taking a big leap ABOUT THE own bike-share program with a plan tion™ initiative that aims to create forward in realizing our vision for 2,700-MILE BAY that currently includes releasing a seamless regional trail system a connected regional trail system AREA TRAILS 300 bicycles—including standard connecting all nine Bay Area coun- serving the whole Bay Area.” COLLABORATIVE, and electric-assist models—near ties and dozens of communities In addition to establishing key AN RTC Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit throughout the region. trail connections between the east TRAILNATION stops. The county is currently in and north sides of the Bay, the new PROJECT: talks with a number of companies, A Key Connection pathway also closes a critical gap RTC.LI/BATC including several with systems Despite the fact that four bridges in the San Francisco Bay Trail compatible with Gotcha Bikes, provide east–west vehicle access (baytrail.org), a partially complete, which would allow customers to across the Bay, only the Dumbarton 500-mile trail network that will ulti- make one-way trips across the new

Bridge—in the southern Bay area— mately circumnavigate the entire bridge and dock on the other side.• (2) CONSERVANCY RAILS-TO-TRAILS COURTESY

WINTER 2020 RAILS TO TRAILS 27 kelly-ingram-park). al.org/listings/ lence (birmingham victims ofracial vio- and thosewhowere civil rightsactivists park pay tributeto tion. Statuesinthe that shocked thena ject to policebrutality protestors were sub Crusade of1963, During theChildren’s in Birmingham. ing fordesegregation ful protests advocat- site ofmanypeace- Ingram Park wasthe 16th Street, Kelly Avenue and North Heritage Trail atFifth for theCivilRights The launchingpoint Ingram Park Kelly alongside mainstays like NelsonBrothers Café, whichopened in1943. revitalization ( latter ofwhichwasAlabama’s firstpubliclibrary open to AfricanAmericans.Currently under Association fortheAdvancement ofColored People andtheBooker T. Washington Library, the Temple, theCarver Theater andtheColored Masonic Temple, whichoncehoused theNational owned businesses,restaurants hubs.Highlightsinclude thePythian andentertainment thriving commercial center ofBirminghaminthefirsthalf20thcentury, hostingblack- Avenue wasa The Fourth BusinessDistrict,locatedbetween15thand18thStreets North, Fourth Avenue Business District important places andevents intheAmerican civilrights movement. downtown Birmingham(andneighborhoodswest) andtraces aroute thatincludessomeofthemost 750 miles. Part ofthetrail system follows theCivilRights Heritage Trail, whichwindsits way through Jefferson County, Alabama,featuring beautifulgreen spaces, waterways andhistorical sites across Birmingham’s Red Rock Trail System (freshwaterlandtrust.org) isadeveloping trail network in BY MAGGIE MCADEN Birmingham’s CivilRights Heritage Trail TRAILSIDE 28 www.urbanimpactbirmingham.org), thedistrictis seeing newbusinessesemerge

- - RAILS TO TRAILSWINTER 2020 Sixteenth Street Baptist Church the fightforequality(16thstreetbaptist.org ). as alastingsymbolofhopeandstrengthserves in to thechurch’s reopening inJune1964,anditnow more than 20otherpeople.A wave ofdonationsled injuring Denise McNairandCarole Robertson—and four young girls—Addie MaeCollins,CynthiaWesley, bombed by membersoftheKu KluxKlan,killing minds oftheday. OnSept.15,1963,thechurch was and rallies—hosting someofthemostprominent church asaspaceforlectures, served meetings residents. Duringthecivilrightsmovement, the crucial socialandpoliticalrole inthelives ofblack Church at16thStreet andSixthAvenue plays a of Birminghamin1873,SixteenthStreet Baptist Established astheFirst Colored BaptistChurch • • League Museum Birmingham Negro Southern Brooklyn Dodgers(birminghamnslm.org). league “color line” by playing hisfirstgamewiththe legend JackieRobinsonofficiallybroke themajor racially segregated until1947,whenbaseball Discriminatory policieskept majorleaguebaseball American LeagueandNegro NationalLeague. asastepping-stoneLeague served to theNegro world. Created in1920,theNegro Southern impact onBirmingham,Alabama andthebaseball documentingits Negro leaguebaseball artifacts, is hometo thecountry’s largest collectionof Birmingham Negro SouthernLeagueMuseum between First andSecondAvenues, the Located justoffthe16thStreet South Trail •

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: DENISBIN; COURTESY BASEBALL COLLECTION; DAVID BROSSARD DESTINATION

New Mexico Santa Fe Rail Trail: Tracing Back to the Wild West

STORY AND PHOTOS BY ROBERT ANNIS

It was with a sense of adventure to dirt and the tempo changes. way down to the town of Lamy and Photos: The that I began my journey on New What had been a steady rhythm Eldorado, a subdivision that holds landscapes of the Santa Fe Rail Trail Mexico’s Santa Fe Rail Trail (rtc.li/ gives way to gradual diminuendos the distinction of being the largest evoke a true Old Santa-Fe-Rail-Trail), which takes a and dramatic crescendos, more like solar-powered community in the West experience 16.1-mile north-south trajectory be- an Explosions in the Sky song. The United States. Not too far from the in New Mexico. tween Santa Fe and Lamy. Starting trail pitches up and down, curves trail, riders can stop by the historic at the train depot and the revital- and undulates—with a surface more Legal Tender saloon, which also ized Railyard retail and entertain- appropriate to walking and moun- houses the Lamy Railroad & History ment district in Santa Fe, the trail tain biking. The grade never rises Museum. The Santa Fe winds its way across a few busy much above 4 percent, but the dirt I was in Santa Fe and the sur- Rail Trail is intersections, past the requisite becomes loose and sandy in the rounding area only for a day—and considered a brewery and several infrastructure low washes; I felt my bike fishtail not traveling with my bicycle. Luckily “rail-with-trail,” projects. As I pedaled along the and was immediately grateful for its next door to the trail was Ecomotive with users paved trail and took in the history wide, knobby tires. Electric Bikes, an hourly rental shop. sharing space surrounding me, Johnny Cash’s The views outside of Santa Fe I panicked briefly to arrive and find with an active “One More Ride” popped into my rapidly change from industrial the shop closed, but owner Pam commuter line. mind. buildings to high-dollar suburban Sawyer was quickly on the scene. In “Oh the clickety clack of the rail- homes to miles of sage and juniper a matter of minutes, I was astride a road track is callin’, in every direction. The trail continues 7-speed electric cruiser as Sawyer The If a man could know where the to run alongside the rail line as well gave me a few helpful trail hints. Atchison, Santa Fe goes when she gets as old, multistory trestle bridges. “It’s almost impossible to get lost,” Topeka and Santa Fe Less than a dozen miles outside of Sawyer said, obviously knowing my under steam, Railway didn’t And the big loud bell that bongs town, there’s a definite Wild West reputation. “The trail follows the originally go farewell to hear her whistle scream, feeling; it can be hard to tell if it’s tracks the entire way.” through Santa Fe, but rather She’s bound to go where there the 19th or 21st century. I feel like Of course, less than a mile later Lamy, ain’t no snow a fallin’ ….” I should be wearing a 10-gallon I did lose the trail, needing to back- 18 miles to A few hundred yards after reach- hat and not a bike helmet. track to a busy intersection where the south. ing Rabbit Road, the Santa Fe turns Eventually trail users make their the rail line veered diagonally. Less

WINTER 2020 RAILS TO TRAILS 29 DESTINATION

heated feud between the Sante Fe PHOTO: The and its competitor, the Denver and Santa Fe Rail Trail promises Rio Grande Railroad. Disputes over breathtaking New right-of-way led to armed conflicts Mexico scenery between the workers of the two complete with miles of juniper companies, in what became known and sage. as the Royal Gorge Railway War. It took federal intervention to stop hostilities in 1880, two years later. Although the railway almost always was an important mover of freight and raw materials, the Santa Fe was best known for its passenger service. It was the first railroad to introduce domed passenger cars, giving tourists a more expansive view of the scenery. It’s since ceded than 100 yards later, the trail disap- before the improvements were its passenger service to Amtrak, but peared entirely. Luckily, Sawyer had made (on the north end),” Rogers both the New Mexico Rail Runner warned me about that as well, so said. “It was more difficult, but also commuter service and the Santa Fe I just pedaled through two park- more interesting.” Southern tourism line use at least ing lots until the trail resumed. Tim At a stoplight, I struck up a short part of the rail line today. Rogers, trails program manager for conversation with Rudy Penczer, 51, the Santa Fe Conservation Trust who commutes the entire length Back to the Future (https://sfct.org), later told me that of the trail nearly every day on his I saw quite a few smiling faces they hope to have official trail in that cyclocross bike. He hoped the trail during my ride, and I’d see many spot in the near future, perhaps by would continue to retain its unique of them again at the Railyard. The the end of 2020. character. “[My ride to and from popularity of the trail has coincided “It’s almost Trail expansion and connection will work] is usually the most fun part of with the revitalization of the area impossible to continue to be priorities going for- my day,” he said. surrounding the train depot. ward, Rogers said. The Santa Fe Rail “When I first came to Santa Fe, get lost. The Trail already connects to the 3.5-mile Tracing Back the Santa Fe [the Railyard] was a dead zone that trail follows Arroyo de los Chamisos Trail (rtc.li/ Completed in 1880, the Atchison, people avoided,” Rogers said. “That’s Arroyo-Chamisos) and is just blocks Topeka and Santa Fe Railway all changed now. There’s always the tracks away from the developing River Trail Company didn’t originally go through something going on.” the entire (rtc.li/River-Trail). Planners hope to Santa Fe, but rather Lamy, 18 miles While I missed the farmers mar- extend the Santa Fe Rail Trail about 6 to the south. The original goal of ket, held each Saturday morning, I way.” miles south of Lamy, connecting it to the company, commonly called the did manage to get my daily serving Pam Sawyer, Owner, the 25-mile Galisteo Basin Preserve Santa Fe Railroad, was to follow the of hops at the Second Street Brew- Ecomotive Electric Bikes trail network (galisteobasinpreserve. existing Santa Fe (wagon) Trail, but ery. A massive REI anchors the com), a favorite of local mountain the terrain surrounding the city made Railyard development, giving trail bikers and hikers. building a rail line difficult. Members users a place to purchase Bike commuters have been using of the Santa Fe community were last-minute essentials. the railroad right-of-way for eventually forced to raise money for The trail gave me glimpses into decades, long before the first official a spur rail line so the city, the largest Santa Fe’s past and present, and both easement was granted in the late in the New Mexico territory at the the Railyard and plans for trail ex- 1990s, Rogers said. There’s been time, didn’t become a ghost town, pansion promised a bright future. To some talk about upgrading or even Rogers said. It’s that spur line the paraphrase Cash, now that I’d hit the paving the southern half of the trail, Santa Fe Rail Trail follows. trail of the iron rail, it was time for but officials want to leave it as is. Building the rail line was made me to saddle up my rented Elantra “A lot of riders enjoyed the trail even more dangerous due to a and head toward the sunset.•

30 RAILS TO TRAILS WINTER 2020 DESTINATION

trail, offers full hookups and free wifi.

Breweries Second Street Brewery (secondstreetbrewery.com) has two locations right off the trail—at the Railyard and at its flagship brewery at Second Street and San Mateo Road. The Agua Fria Pilsner is a great refreshing beer after a day on the trail, while hopheads will like the dank 2920 IPA.

Where to Eat Start your day off right with a trip to Sky Coffee (skysantafe.com) for a local favorite Whoo’s donut and a cup of java. The stuffed portabella sandwich and the free-range fried chicken are two of the specialties at Boxcar (boxcarsantafe.com). Want to combine dinner and a movie? The Violet Crown Theater (santafe. violetcrown.com) allows you to chow down on burgers, Robert Annis is an green-chile enchiladas or Indianapolis-based Accessing the Trail Grande and Avenida Eldo- entertainment, dining, shop- polenta while enjoying first- freelance writer To reach the Rabbit Road rado. Users can also access ping and residential services run blockbusters. specializing in cycling and outdoor trailhead in Santa Fe, head the trail at Spur Ranch Road, (railyardsantafe.com). travel. When he’s south on South St. Francis but there are no facilities. Where to Rent not hunched over a Drive until you pass under Where to Stay Ecomotive Electric Bikes keyboard, you are likely to find him I-25. Take a right heading What to See The closest hotel to the (ecomotivebikes.com) pedaling the back west on Rabbit Road and Reminders of the Old West trail is also one of travel- is located at the Railyard roads and trails follow for about a half-mile are everywhere along the ers’ favorites. The Santa Fe train depot at the northern of the Midwest until you reach the railroad dirt section of the trail: Sage Inn (santafesageinn. terminus of the Santa Fe or traveling around the globe. tracks and a small parking century-old railroad trestles, com) oozes New Mexico Rail Trail. Mellow Velo Find examples lot on the left. At the south- miles of juniper and sage. charm, and guests love the (mellowvelo.com/rentals/) of his work on ern end, outside of Lamy, the It’s like you’re in the middle expertly curated local tap and the Broken Spoke robertannis. contently.com. trail and railroad tracks can of a movie Western. As list at its Social Kitchen and (rental.brokenspokesantafe. be picked up near Cerro Alto trail users head north, the Bar. More budget-minded com) offer standard bikes Road off Highway 285. scenery gradually becomes travelers should check out for rent, while Bike N Sport You can find other trail- more modern, culminating in the Motel 6 (motel6.com). (nmbikensport.com/demos- heads with parking at the the hip Railyard development The Trailer Ranch RV Park rentals) gives customers the trail intersections with Nine at the northern terminus, (trailerranch.com), located option of either a standard or Mile Road, Avenida Vista which features arts and just a mile or 2 from the electric bike.

WINTER 2020 RAILS TO TRAILS 31 TRAIL TALES

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New Hampshire Meet the Mastermind Behind the Granite State’s New Cross-State Adventure Trail

BY LAURA STARK

With a panoply of backdrops and a grab bag of tions on backcountry roads (and a small fraction on busy PHOTOS: (Left) surfaces—including crushed stone, hard-packed roads), Borowski aimed to incorporate as much off-road Marianne Borowski; (right) dirt, cinder, ballast, grass and even paved road— trail as possible. With lots of bicycling experience—both the Presidential travelers on the Cross New Hampshire Adventure on-road and off-road—she prefers the latter, stating, Rail-Trail is part Trail (crossnewhampshire.org) are sure to experience “There’s something about being on a recreation path or a of the cross-state route. many delights and challenges along the way, but never, rail-trail that I just find great because I can look around, I ever boredom. “Adventure” is right there in the name, can relax, I can chat with someone riding next to me and though less experienced riders or families can choose not always be looking in my rearview mirror wondering if sections of the 83-mile route between Woodsville, New the cars are seeing me and worrying about the traffic.” “I THINK THE Hampshire, and Bethel, Maine, that aren’t as intense. Stretching across the state’s North Country region, ROUTE COMPARES New Hampshire resident and mastermind behind the the journey from the Vermont border to just over the VERY WELL WITH trail, Marianne Borowski, noted, “You need to have a bit Maine line includes two rail-trails: the Presidential Rail SOME OF THE of a sense of humor in some places.” Trail (friendsofthepresidentialrailtrail.org), tucked NICEST SCENERY Borowski, a retired biochemist, drew inspiration from into the picturesque Presidential Range of the White THAT I’VE SEEN New Hampshire’s neighbor, Vermont, and its 91-mile Mountains, and the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail (rtc.li/ ON ROUTES ALL cross-state route that now ties into this one. By com- ammonoosuc-rail-trail), which parallels its lushly AROUND THE bining the two, the truly intrepid can travel a whopping forested namesake river. Both add an equestrian option COUNTRY.” 174 miles. Having experienced the Cross Vermont Trail to the adventure, as well as cross-country skiing and (crossvermont.org), she asked its organizers if anyone snowmobiling in the winter. was working on continuing a trail from where their route So far, just a few signs are up marking the Cross New MARIANNE ended at the Connecticut River, into New Hampshire and Hampshire Adventure Trail—and more are coming—but, BOROWSKI ON across the Granite State. Upon hearing that no one was, in the meantime, those interested in checking out the THE CROSS NEW Borowski jumped in wheels first. route can visit the trail’s website, which has been up HAMPSHIRE “I think the route compares very well with some of the and running for only about two years, to find detailed ADVENTURE TRAIL nicest scenery that I’ve seen on routes all around the cue sheets and maps. country,” she enthused. “We have mountains, we have As its one-woman champion, the project has been a babbling brooks and rocky rivers, moose and bears, true labor of love for Borowski, and she is thrilled to see wildflowers and lupine fields, spectacular fall foliage—all the idea catching on. “The town of Lisbon is very sup- these great things that a lot of people don’t see because portive of this; they thought it was a good idea because they don’t head up that far north. I think it’s a gem, and they see where bicycling brings in tourism and it would by putting this route together, what I’ve seen already are be good for the local businesses,” she shared. “It’s a Laura Stark is people saying, ‘I might go ride that for a long weekend.’” little town, but it’s a perfect place to grab a lunch and a lead writer and editor for Borowski has received positive feedback from dozens sit down in the park by the river. To see that they were Rails to Trails of enthusiastic riders who have explored the new trail. excited about this cross-state trail going through their magazine.

Although the route is stitched together with some sec- town really felt good to me. They get it!”• MARIANNEBOROWSKI LATHROP; SUSIE LEFT: FROM

32 RAILS TO TRAILS WINTER 2020 FEATURED MAP

Wisconsin’s Oak Leaf Trail The Oak Leaf Trail in Milwaukee developing Rails-to-Trails Conservancy County connects neighborhoods, TrailNation™ project connecting seven green space and cultural sites counties in southeastern Wisconsin. along a path of more than 125 miles, (Read the cover story on page 12.) and makes up a significant portion of Learn more: rtc.li/Oak-Leaf-Trail or the 700-mile Route of the Badger, a railstotrails.org/badger. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Non-Profit 2121 Ward Court, NW, 5th Floor U.S. Postage PAID Washington, DC 20037-1213 Rails to Trails Conservancy