A community can check all the right boxes as a trail town and still need help in connecting to its trails and outdoor assets. Cycle Forward worked in Connellsville, Pennsylvania to help improve its connection to the Great Allegheny Passage, foster an outdoor culture, and lead hands-on placemaking projects. Dates: January – October 2021 Client: […]
Writing by Amy Camp
New York State Canalway Water Trail: Inspiring Stewardship Across the Empire State
Imagine the massive challenge of stewarding a 450-mile water trail. Launch areas, parking lots, and riverbanks all need ongoing attention to ensure a quality trail experience. This prompted the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor to develop a trail-wide stewardship program along the New York State Canalway Water Trail. They hired Cycle Forward to help make it happen.
“Taking Heart” in Responses to Deciding on Trails
The final section of Deciding on Trails is titled, “Taking Heart in Trails.” A little over a month since publishing, I can say that I have taken heart in the positive response to the book.
COVID-19’s Impact on PA Trails: Uncovering Increased Use and Newfound Appreciation
We all know that the outdoors served as a vital outlet during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trail and park managers around the globe reported increased use as people took to nature for their personal wellbeing. Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) recognized the need to understand the pandemic’s impact on trails and hired Cycle Forward to lead the research. […]
Community Pain Points in the time of COVID
I have a lot of thoughts (and questions) around how trail communities – how any community – will recover from the pandemic. But in this moment, I simply want to acknowledge what a difficult time this has been for people.
Getting Outside in a Time of Social Distancing
Life has changed pretty significantly over the last couple of weeks. I sense that we’re all doing the best we can to get by despite the very real hardships that so many of us face. One of the things that’s been on my mind, like many of you, is how safe is it to go […]
Are we Hungry for Thriving Communities?
In her memoir, Hunger, Roxane Gay writes of romantic relationships, “…it’s a shame that the measure is what is not so bad instead of what is thriving and good.” That insight caught my attention because it’s true for so many people. No doubt, we all have friends or family members who stay in relationships that […]
Indiana Trail Town Workshops: Introducing Trail Towns to Hoosier State Communities
The Greenways Foundation advocates for trails and greenways in Indiana. In 2019, the Foundation determined it was time to advocate for better trail-to-town connections as well. They hired Cycle Forward to host six interactive trail town workshops throughout the state. Many of the participants were learning about trail towns for the very first time.
Kane, Pennsylvania: Sparking New Life in a National Forest Gateway Community
As a consultant, sometimes you just know a community is going to take the next steps after the consulting gig has ended. This was the case for Kane, Pennsylvania when Cycle Forward facilitated a community planning meeting in the fall of 2019. There was a collective energy with all signs pointing to follow-through and sustained […]
PEI Placemaking Workshop: Prompting a Coastal Community to Consider Its Sense of Place
The Cavendish resort area on the North Shore of Prince Edward Island is known for its beaches, golf courses, and family-friendly vibe. And, most famously, the Anne of Green Gables novels were set in the area. Despite these impressive regional draws, one tiny harbour community still needed to establish itself as a worthy stop. In 2019, Cycle Forward was able to help.
