Trails and Greenways Coalition

Trails and Greenways Coalition is a nonprofit advocacy group focused on developing trail networks and greenway corridors across the United States. Founded in the late 1990s, the organization works with municipal agencies, state parks, federal land managers and civic groups to advance walking, cycling and conservation projects. The Coalition engages with elected officials, philanthropic foundations and technical partners to integrate active transportation, public health and environmental stewardship into regional planning.

History

The Coalition was founded amid policy debates that included stakeholders from National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, and municipal planners from New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, and Seattle. Early initiatives referenced models from the National Scenic Trail system and lessons from projects like the High Line and Atlanta BeltLine, while coordinating with state entities such as the California Department of Transportation and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. In the 2000s the group expanded programs in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Transportation (United States), drawing on research from institutions including Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of California, Berkeley. Major milestones included technical guidance aligned with the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 principles and collaborations tied to the Transportation Alternatives movement and the Safe Routes to School program.

Mission and Activities

The Coalition's mission emphasizes multi-modal access, habitat connectivity and community engagement, aligning with priorities established by American Trails, Land Trust Alliance, Trust for Public Land, National Recreation and Park Association, and regional organizations such as Parks & Trails New York and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Core activities include policy advocacy at hearings before the United States Congress, grantmaking workshops with the Kresge Foundation and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and technical assistance that draws on standards from the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Federal Highway Administration. The organization publishes design guidelines reflecting practices used on the Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail, and urban greenways like the Minneapolis Grand Rounds and Atlanta BeltLine.

Programs and Partnerships

Programs center on corridor master-planning, community health initiatives, and workforce development in coordination with partners such as National Endowment for the Arts, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Corporation for National and Community Service. Partnership projects include pilot greenways with municipal governments in Portland, Oregon, Austin, Texas, Boston, Massachusetts, and Denver, Colorado, plus cross-sector coalitions involving American Planning Association, Urban Land Institute, Trust for Public Land, and labor groups like the Service Employees International Union. The Coalition operates technical assistance programs with academic partners including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Michigan, Stanford University, and Yale School of the Environment, and convenes biennial summits featuring speakers from National Geographic Society, Smithsonian Institution, and leading design firms with portfolios involving the High Line and Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Governance and Funding

Governance is provided by a board comprising leaders with affiliations to Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Land Trust Alliance, American Rivers, and municipal parks departments from Los Angeles, Chicago, and Philadelphia. Executive leadership has included professionals previously employed by the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and metropolitan planning organizations such as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (San Francisco Bay Area). Funding sources include grants from foundations like the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, contracts with state agencies including the California Coastal Conservancy, philanthropic gifts from the Ford Foundation and Rockefeller Foundation, and fee-for-service consulting for projects supported by agencies such as the Federal Highway Administration and foundations connected to Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Impact and Recognition

The Coalition's influence is reflected in completed projects informed by its guidance on corridors linked to the C&O Canal National Historical Park, the Towpath Trail (Ohio), and urban greenways in Charlotte, North Carolina and Cleveland, Ohio. Recognition includes awards and citations from the National Recreation and Park Association, the American Planning Association’s chapter awards, coverage in publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, and National Geographic, and invitations to testify before committees in the United States Congress and at international forums such as the International Federation of Parks and Recreation Administration. Its work has been featured in case studies produced by the World Bank, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and academic journals affiliated with Columbia University, University of California, Los Angeles, and University of Pennsylvania.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Washington, D.C.