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Ways to contribute to trail building...
Find a Trail Project
or Abandoned Rail Corridor in your
area
Help with an existing trail project or start one on your own! We would
be glad to help get you started.
Subscribe
to our e-newsletters. The Greenways Foundation sends out
newsletters to 8 different regions of the state, as well as a statewide
and several trail-specific editions. No personal information
is collected.
Join
the Indiana Trails Mailing List (Listserv)
This is a mailing list which has been active since 2001 and includes over
200 advocates, professionals and public officials working to build trails
around the state. Many of the topics of this listserv will be very helpful
to those wishing to promote and develop trails. Use the list as a public
forum to ask questions, deliver news, etc. Subscription is kept private,
no personal info is collected, no spam, and no ads.
Become
a Greenways Foundation Member
Become a member of or donate to the Greenways Foundation, or sponsor our
website/newsletter. Your gift will be applied to the trail of your choice
or to new trails all around the state. If you live near a potential trail,
your support can make a critical difference. As a member you’ll receive
a membership package and our future newsletter packed with informative,
interesting and up-to-date information on trails and happenings in our
state.
Join a trail group in your
area
If you live near an open, planned or proposed trail, find out if there
is a local trail group for the project. Open trails are often maintained
and improved by local volunteers. Contact us if you can’t find the
info here. Once you’ve done that, work with the trail group to attend
meetings, write local officials, do research and office work, help with
public relations, help with presentations and festivals, do outdoor labor,
participate in fundraising, join in trail-booster activities, or anything
else they dream up!
Write or call your state, county and city officials
This is a very simple, important and effective task. Write your state
legislators, mayor, city council members, and county commissioners. Without
exception they love hearing from people and they will listen. Tell them
you would like to see more trails built in your area.
Learn as much as you can about existing trails
Visit as many trails as you can, as often as you can. There is no substitute
for experience, and every trail has its own unique personality. Even different
stretches of the same trail can be vastly different! Become a vocal supporter.
Tell others how much fun you had! Simple word-of-mouth can be the most
powerful trail-building force.
Start a trail group in your area
You may want to put together a trail organization in your area if there
aren’t any which fit your vision, or if you have a particular trail
project in mind. Most counties in Indiana do not have such groups, especially
in the southern areas. Potential trails through towns and cities can only
benefit from a local trail advocacy group. Keep in mind that no trails
get built without local support. Most of Indiana's open trails began at
the grass roots level. These groups will do everything from fundraising
to landscaping. Please contact us for immediate assistance in this endeavor.
Volunteer
with the Greenways Foundation
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