Trails have become a new type of Town Green, a place where all members of our communities can gather, recreate, relax and even commute or travel together. Experts will offer sessions designed to be interactive, so come prepared with your specific questions or concerns. By the end of the Symposium you will have learned how to integrate trail users and get your community more involved with and utilizing your trail systems on many levels.

The keynote speaker is Shalin Desai, a member of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) Board of Directors. Desai will speak about the ATC’s and his personal experience with the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) population and he will share diversity, equity and inclusion strategies we can all deploy. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail is the longest hiking-only footpath in the world, measuring roughly 2,190 miles in length. The Trail was completed in 1937 and travels through fourteen states. Over 3 million visitors walk a portion of the Trail each year. The population of the trail corridor, its visitors and volunteers is changing. The keynote will consider how the ATC is adapting to and supporting these changes. 

Other sessions will include discussions on: Providing accessibility information to trail users; What managed motorized recreation is, who participates and its financial and community impacts; Kingdom Trails of Vermont will share their experiences for building a healthy community and sustaining a healthy economy; What are social determinants of health and how do they relate to greenways; The importance of connected greenways and bicycle routes in urban communities; and more!
            
After the event, Goodwin College will celebrate the Grand Opening of their trail system, at the Pavilion at the South Meadows Greenway. Bus transportation will be provided to and from the event.

On-line event registration is now open and can be accessed through the CT Greenways Council’s website:  www.ct.gov/deep/greenways