Trail Talk Webinars

November 14, 2023 @ 12pm

Join us to learn about what Advocacy is and how it works. Mike Jones from West Virginia Rivers Coalition and Kelly Pack and Eric Oberg from the Rails-to Trails Conservancy will be presenting on a variety of topics related to advocacy including how to advocate, who to direct your efforts towards, conversation tips, and ways to engage your elected officials.

About the Speakers

Mike Jones is WV Rivers Public Lands Campaign Coordinator. Mike is a West Virginian “by choice” having fallen in love with the beauty of the state and its rivers and public lands. His work includes public lands advocacy, legislative initiatives to protect public lands, and coordinating the West Virginians for Public Lands Alliance.

Kelly Pack is the Senior Director of Trail Development at the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Kelly has been the driving force behind some of RTC's most innovative and successful work, including fostering a local community of ownership around the Metropolitan Branch Trail in Washington, D.C., promoting urban rail-trails as critical public health amenities and helping the people of New Orleans stay connected to plans to redevelop the Lafitte Corridor.

Eric Oberg is the Midwest Regional Director at RTC and has worked extensively throughout the Midwest and entire country with trail groups, decision makers and business leaders on trail projects of all shapes and sizes. He has particularly enjoyed working in some of the Midwest’s finest urban areas, a stark difference from the native village on Kodiak Island where he spent his childhood.

March 22, 2023 @ 12pm

Join us for this year’s first Trail Talk on Wednesday, March 22 at 12pm to learn more about Transportation Alternatives and Recreational Trail Program Grants, two federal funding programs administered by WVDOH that support trail development and maintenance across the state. Program administrators from WVDOH, Mark Scoular and Travis Hayes, will provide more information about the application process and we’ll hear from past and current grant recipients with tips on how to be best prepared to apply once the new application cycle is announced.

Now is an important time to understand how your trail project could be eligible for these federal funding programs, as communities across the country are taking advantage of increased federal funding for biking, walking, and trails. Transportation Alternatives is the largest source of federal funding for trails, walking and biking, and there’s never been a more important time to apply for these funds after the program received a nearly 70% increase in funding under the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) in 2021.

In 2023, West Virginia will receive more than $11 million for Transportation Alternatives and the Recreational Trail Program combined. Since 1992, West Virginia communities have utilized these programs to fund hundreds of projects across the state, investing millions in our biking, walking, and trail networks.

July 13, 2022 @ 12pm

Join is for the second WV TRAIL Talk to learn more about the wonderful world of flatwater trails in West Virginia and efforts to establish the Ohio River Way on a 275-mile stretch of the Ohio River in Ohio and Kentucky. Our speakers include two members of the Governor-appointed WV Flatwater Trail Commission and WV-based watershed organizations that are leading major water quality protection and restoration efforts, as well as an Ohio-based founder and organizer of one of the largest paddling events in the country.

About the Speakers

Amanda Pitzer is the Executive Director of Friends of the Cheat (FOC), West Virginia’s flagship watershed group. Since her tenure began in 2010, FOC has solidified its reputation as a leader in water quality protection and restoration. Once named one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers, the Cheat River now boasts healthy fisheries from its headwaters to its confluence with the Monongahela. Fueled by clean water and local enthusiasm, a recreation revival is underway as FOC leads both critical local support systems and regional strategies.

Amanda was named one of West Virginia’s 50 “Wonder Women” by WV Living Magazine and in 2020 she was honored with the National River Hero award. Amanda was appointed by the Governor to serve as one of West Virginia’s first Flatwater Trail Commissioners, and she is a Board member of the newly reinvigorated, statewide trail organization WV TRAIL.

John Burchett is Vice President and Projects Coordinator with Friends of the Tug Fork River, a nonprofit organization formed to preserve and protect the Tug Fork River and its watershed, raise awareness of its history, and develop recreation, tourism, and economic opportunities for our area. In 2021, the Bloody Mingo Tug Fork Water Trail became a designated West Virginia Flatwater Trail, the eighth river in the state to receive this designation.

Brewster Roads is the founder and chair of the Ohio River Paddlefest, an annual event in Cincinnati that benefits Adventure Crew, a non-profit that works 24 inner city high schools to get teens out into nature to paddle, bike, hike, camp, fish, climb and more. Now retired, Brewster spent his professional career in the political arena in Greater Cincinnati and served as the Executive Director of Green Umbrella, the non-profit that started Tri-State Trails. Brewster has served on the Ohio River Way Board for nearly 20 years and is the Co-Chair of the Ohio River Recreation Trail.

March 24, 2022 @ 12PM

Trails can connect people, communities and regions in WV by creating opportunities to tell the story of the state’s past, present and future. This session will share examples from similar places that have successfully made these connections. The panelists will provide useful ideas for bringing together new partnerships, design techniques and resources for trails in communities throughout the state. The presentation includes a case study of NY’s Empire State Trail, focusing on heritage interpretation elements.

About the Speakers

Jeff Olson is the author of The Third Mode: Towards a Green Society, an architect, and entrepreneur. He has been involved in greenways, trails, open space, active living and alternative transportation projects for more than 30 years. He has had a diverse career with experience in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Jeff is an avid bicyclist and skier who has the perspective of a parent with three children.

Andy Beers was named Director of the Empire State Trail in 2017. He is an employee of the Hudson River Valley Greenway, which is hosting the statewide Empire State Trail initiative. Prior to that he served for ten years as the Executive Deputy Commissioner for the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, which operates 215 state parks, historic sites, and greenway trails. Andy also worked for seventeen years for the New York Office of The Nature Conservancy. In 1983 he received a M.S in Natural Resource Policy from Cornell University.