West Virginia Trails Coalition

West Virginia Trails Coalition
Name	West Virginia Trails Coalition
Type	Nonprofit coalition
Founded	1999
Headquarters	Charleston, West Virginia
Region served	West Virginia
Focus	Trails, recreation, conservation, economic development

West Virginia Trails Coalition is a statewide nonprofit coalition that coordinates trail development, recreation planning, conservation partnerships, and outdoor tourism in West Virginia. The coalition works with federal agencies such as the National Park Service, United States Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management as well as state entities like the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and the West Virginia Department of Commerce to expand multi-use, hiking, biking, equestrian, and motorized trails. It collaborates with regional organizations including the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, and local land trusts to integrate trail systems with heritage tourism and community planning.

History

The coalition traces its roots to late-1990s advocacy by outdoor stakeholders after projects like the conversion of abandoned corridors by the National Trails System Act and regional initiatives such as the restoration of the C&O Canal and expansion of the Shepherdstown Trail corridor. Early partners included the American Hiking Society, the West Virginia Rails-to-Trails Council, and municipal leaders from Charleston, West Virginia and Morgantown, West Virginia. Influences on its formation include federal programs administered under the Transport Enhancement Program, projects associated with the Americans with Disabilities Act access improvements, and conservation precedents set by the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the National Historic Preservation Act. Over time the group engaged in efforts connected to the rehabilitation projects near New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, collaborations with the Greenbrier River Trail stakeholders, and regional planning with the Coal River Trails initiative.

Organization and Governance

The coalition is governed by a volunteer board drawing members from nonprofit groups such as the Sierra Club, the Nature Conservancy, and regional chambers of commerce like the Charleston Area Alliance. Its bylaws reference model policies from the Independent Sector and sample governance from the National Council of Nonprofits. Operational staff coordinate with state agencies including the West Virginia Department of Transportation and the West Virginia Development Office and liaise with federal contacts at the Federal Highway Administration and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for grant alignment. Advisory committees have included representatives from the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Mountain State Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, and university partners like West Virginia University and Marshall University.

Programs and Initiatives

Programs include trail planning assistance modeled on workshops run by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, corridor feasibility studies similar to those by the National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program, and accessibility projects informed by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board. Initiatives have ranged from community trail summits with the Outdoor Industry Association to economic impact assessments paralleling studies by the U.S. Travel Association and the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The coalition has hosted training with the American Trails organization, volunteer stewardship days inspired by the National Park Foundation, and youth outreach coordinated with the Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of the USA.

Trails and Projects

Notable projects have included support for expansions of the Greenbrier River Trail, coordination on the Caperton Trail, and advocacy around connectors to the North Bend Rail Trail and the Mon River Rail-Trail. The coalition supported signage and mapping efforts consistent with standards from the US Geological Survey and trailhead improvements akin to those at the New River Gorge Bridge. Projects have interfaced with conservation easements held by groups like the Open Space Institute and the Trust for Public Land, and have coordinated cross-jurisdictional linkages with the Great Allegheny Passage and regional plans referencing the Appalachian Trail corridor.

Advocacy and Policy

The coalition engages in state-level advocacy aligned with policy priorities similar to those advanced by the National Recreation and Park Association and lobbies for funding streams akin to the Transportation Alternatives Program and the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program. It comments on rulemakings by the Environmental Protection Agency when projects intersect with waterways such as the Ohio River and the Kanawha River, and supports legislative measures comparable to state outdoor recreation acts passed in other states. The organization has filed amicus and stakeholder briefs in coordination with legal advocates from the Environmental Defense Fund and policy analysts from the Brookings Institution on the economic benefits of trail networks.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding sources include grants from foundations like the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and program support from the Outdoor Foundation, corporate partnerships reminiscent of those with REI and local manufacturers, and joint grants with the Appalachian Regional Commission. The coalition has secured matching funds through state programs administered by the West Virginia Division of Highways and collaborated with philanthropic partners such as the Kresge Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and regional donors who supported projects modeled after the Land Trust Alliance campaigns. Partnerships extend to tourism bureaus including the West Virginia Tourism Office and regional economic development entities like the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation.

Membership and Volunteer Involvement

Members include municipal park departments from Huntington, West Virginia, nonprofit trail groups like the Mon River Trails Conservancy, outdoor clubs such as the Appalachian Mountain Club, and corporate members drawn from regional employers. Volunteer programs mirror national models such as the Adopt-a-Trail framework, and the coalition works with service organizations like AmeriCorps and conservation corps modeled after the Civilian Conservation Corps legacy. Training partnerships include academic internships with West Virginia University Institute of Technology and volunteer management tools similar to those promoted by the VolunteerMatch platform.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in West Virginia Category:Trails in West Virginia