Red Hook Trails Plan!

Please read this plan and:

1. Incorporate it into your final projects
2. Give feedback on how to improve it!

The link to the trails plan:
https://app.box.com/s/v0f6nch5earsyrurd47izx1w4j6i8s4s

Tom

Jolly Rovers Newsletter “The Rover Review”

The   Rover Review          II June, July, August Summer Review – 2015  Conservancy Honors Rovers August 22: “As durable and reliable as the stone they work with, the Rovers are a professional family of volunteers, creating lasting recreational structures on publicly accessible lands that help people access the natural world.”  With these words, Emily Hague, The Monadnock Conservancy’s Stewardship Director, presented the Rovers with its Phillip Faulkner Award at its 26th annual celebration in Dublin, NH. The award is given every couple of years in recognition to an organization or individual that has shown continued commitment to the principles of community service, thoughtful land use planning and community development. Hague presented the opening comments for the award, recalling the Rovers, “quiet grit” and overall history with the Conservancy, starting back in 2013 when the crew first travelled outside of NY and NJ, on its first long distance trip to tackle trail improvements at their Calhoun Family Forest property in Gilsum, NH. “The Jolly Rovers are truly extraordinary in the volunteer experience they offer.” Hague said. “and in the lasting improvements they leave behind, both in stone and in the hearts of those they work with.”    Jolly Rover director and co-founder Chris Ingui accepted the award on behalf of the Rovers. He acknowledged how their work at the Calhoun Family Forest marked the beginning of an important phase that the organization is currently thriving in. “We have the honor of being invited to work on land managed by nonprofit organizations and government agencies from North Carolina to New Hampshire,”Ingui said. “and we’re really proud of having achieved that level of trust in so many partners. But this accomplishment is part of a phase that began 3 years ago when the Monadnock Conservancy gave us a chance to explore the possibility of whether or not we could truly “rove.”  “While the Rovers are tremendously grateful for being acknowledged with this award”Ingui said, “we want to thank the Monadnock Conservancy, for having that faith in us.”  _____________________ Getting Playful With Stone On June 5-7 a splinter crew of 10 travelled back to Gilsum, NH to complete a series of small projects on the Monadnock Conservancy’s Calhoun Family Forest. This trip allowed crew members to be a bit more playful as they constructed two stone benches and erected a 5′ 8″ “standing stone” in honor of the Native American population that once inhabited the region. These features were installed as part of the Monadnock Conservancy’s larger concept for Calhoun Forest to allow for a portion of the Porcupine Falls trail to become an interactive sculpture trail; where visitors will be able to experience both sculptures from local artists as well as poetry from local poets. In addition to these features crew members also built an access trail to a viewpoint of Porcupine Falls, rerouted a small section of the Porcupine Falls trail via sidehilling and added some improvements to their original stonework completed at the forest in 2013. View more pictures in our Facebook album here! 2015 Volunteer Hour Count: Over 4,600 Hours  As of August! Our Goal: 6,000 Hours   Visit Us On: Our Website Facebook Twitter Journey Into The Whites Rovers return to work the great White Mountains  August 14-24 – The cars began to pull into the field at around 2pm. Right off the Kancamagus Highway in Conway, New Hampshire, Jolly Rover crew members from NY, NJ, PA and CT assembled to meet with their NH brothers and sisters for their 3rd annual long distance trip up north. Vehicle after vehicle was unloaded; the kitchen shelters were erected, coolers organized, firewood gathered, showers set up, tents pitched, privy dug, camp duties assigned and within a few hours… Camp Rover was fully operational. “You guys are like a roaming village!” One Forest Service employee joked upon entering the camp, and after a quick tour, we got to reviewing the upcoming weeks work plan while the rest of the crew continued to settle in to what would be their home for the next 10 days. Last year marked the Rovers first trip into the White Mountains at the request of the United States Forest Service’s, Saco Ranger District. With the success of last years trip, where a section of the Champney Falls loop trail was improved with 26 stone steps and 30 feet of stone wall, the Forest Service invited the Rovers to return for a second stint in the Whites this year to continue their work on the highly trafficked trail. A total of 30 Rovers made the trip over two extended work weekends from August 14-24. Once there, crew members proceeded with the harvesting of the native rock surrounding the worksite. Strangely enough, a mere 100 feet beyond the site we worked at last year (where the granite split so beautifully), this site proved quite the opposite as far as the granite’s agreeability to being split and shaped. More exposed and weathered than the quarry located in the prior year, the rock provided no shortage of surprises in the form of internal fissures that would reveal themselves well into the shaping process. Not dissuaded, the crew continued forward, quarrying and moving stone to where it would finally be installed on the trail. Once the rock was transported, things went smoothly as several series of 3-4 step staircases with stone paved landings emerged from the eroded trench that was the trail. By the end of the second weekend, a total of 22 stone steps were installed along with 3 stone paved landings to accommodate seasonal water flow across the path. Back at Camp Rover, each evening the crew would gather together for dinner accompanied by campfire merriment and song. Special mention should be given to crew member Bob Chapel and his incredible 4 hour long acoustic performance of 1950’s Rock, Rhythm and Blues songs with interludes of TV theme songs ranging from “Green Acres” to his incredible encore performance of “Super Chicken.” The riotous night of song was one of the many memorable events of the trip, to grasp them all however…I guess you had to be there. View more pictures on our Facebook page here! Back In “The Gunks” 1 waterfall, 3 days and 25 crew members June 10-12: Rainbow Falls is typically at a steady trickle; during the hike out of our Fridayset up day however, the skies opened up and let loose a torrent of heavy rain, thunder and lightning. Actually, the timing couldn’t have been better. When the rest of the crew arrived on Saturdaymorning, 25 strong, the Falls were running heavy, providing the perfect mist and backdrop to accompany the two days of stonework that followed. The Rainbow Falls Trail in the Minnewaska State Park Preserve of NY has been home to Rover projects since 2013.  Nestled in the Shawangunk Mountains  (“The Gunks”) a full crew of Rovers returned on June 12th – 14th to continue rehabilitation work on the trail at the base of the falls itself. The rock, known as Shawangunk Conglomerate is amongst the most agreeable stone we’ve worked with. A brilliant white, extremely durable and accepting of the stone shapers hammer, it beckons to be built with. A total of 17 stone steps were crafted and fit into the existing bedrock and boulders that rested near the base of the falls. Supporting stone walls for the steps were also built and blended into the scree slope from which the steps originally came. At the top of the winding steps, visitors experience the falls before continuing up the trail across a stone paved crossing also constructed during the weekend. Where there were once several braided and eroded paths to the falls, one now exists made from the rock that fell from the falls centuries earlier. View more pics of this project in our Facebook album here… In The Bog…Building Boardwalk   July 17-20: “I’m going to be late getting to Connecticut today,” the trucker said… I’m still driving through Tennessee…”  As the crew of 5 arrived at Ridgefield, Connecticut’s Ives Trail to begin work on a stretch of puncheon (aka timber bog bridging) this news came over the phone. This was quite unfortunate, because the aforementioned trucker driving through Tennessee was supposed to be in Connecticut… with our timber, which was apparently still sit ting where we staged it in New York. Someday’s, Murphy’s Law proves particularly unrelenting… In a scramble to save the work day crew leader Artie Hidalgo came to the rescue. Not scheduled to be on this trip, he was thankfully still in NY and able to load and drive the timber to make the delivery before the day was out. By no means an easy start to what would be a 4 day trip, when Artie arrived, things proceeded more smoothly, albeit not without struggle. The lumber we were using was Black Locust, which for those that have had to haul it by hand can attest, feels pretty close in weight to stone. (It’s density is what gives it it’s rot resistance, which makes it perfect for timber structures in wet areas.) That said, the crew of Rovers and local volunteers from the Ives Trail Coalition began the process of hand hauling the lumber piece by piece down the slopes to the bottom of the valley where 80 linear feet of 24″ wide puncheon was to be built. Over the next 4 days circular saws and drills ran and the structure began to take form in three separate locations as it gently weaved it’s way between the trees and surrounding rocks. The finished product will last a lifetime, and allow the ecosystem beneath it to continue to thrive without impact from foot traffic. View more pictures of this project in our Facebook album here.

Forward this email This email was sent to todowd@bard.edu by jollyrovertrailcrew@gmail.com | Update Profile/Email Address | Rapid removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | About our service provider. Jolly Rovers Trail Crew Inc. | 53 Spice Bush Lane | Tuxedo | NY | 10987

Final Projects – 4 Groups, 20 Questions, 10 Chapters, 10 Concepts, & Due Dates

Dear Class,

Great work with your volunteer projects, products, and presentations. I’m really impressed with what you produce when you put your minds to it! This bodes well for your final projects! As for those final projects, I wanted to reiterate my expectations (and of course feel free to ask me questions):

You’re assigned to these groups:
(If you absolutely must change groups, you have to swap with a person from the group you want to join)

South Campus + Montgomery Place: Xaver, Jasper, Ella, Duncan
Ice Skating: Evelyn, Isaiah, Hannah, Rock
Bard Trails: Nick, Miguel, Avery, Olivia
Tivoli Bays Trails: Wendi, Clara, Kennedy, Vita

Trail Planning Process: “20 Questions”

(Answer all of these in some way–some projects will focus on some numbers more than others; Split duties as you see fit)

1) Review relevant state, regional, and local planning efforts
2) ID the needs, wants, and concerns of the land manager, property owner, and adjacent neighbors (and get permissions)
3) Engage the public : Identify the needs, wants, and desires of the trail users (surveys? Tabling?)
4) Assemble and analyze maps to ID opportunities and constraints for developing your trail
5) ASSESS: Analyze the property on foot to ID opps/constraints (take photos! GPS points?)
6) SUGGEST: Determine the type of trail system (linear, looped, stacked loops, maze, etc.) and the level of difficulty (“layout & design”)
7) SUGGEST: Determine the location of potential trails and trailheads (map and/or draw)
8) Determine the regulatory requirements
9) Identify environmental and cultural resources
10) Identify social and economic impacts
11) Plan for accessibility/safety
12) Define construction needs
13) Define wayfinding needs
14) Define interpretation needs
15) Evaluate potential management structures for management, maintenance, and operations of your trail
16) What can we get done? What do we need experts for? What do we need money for?
17) Research funding opportunities for trail planning, design, construction, & maintenance
18) Put together a ~10 chapter final report and/or grant application!
19) Have a ~20 resource bibliography!
20) Intro/Conclusion: Inspire us!

Produce a document with 10 Chapters covering each of the following:
(The First Draft is due by class time on 11/24; The various sections are due as they are discussed; Work on them in/out of class; Incorporate the “20 Questions” above)

1) Layout/design
2) Construction
3) Maintenance
4) Wayfinding
5) Interpretation
6) Economic impact
7) Environmental impact
8) Societal impact
9) Photos/drawings (before/after, specifications, aerial, etc.)
10) Map(s)—GIS? Google Earth? Other?
PLUS Bibliography

Incorporate teacher, peer, and guest critiques (of chapter drafts and full document drafts) into final document.
We’ll have formal/informal teacher/peer/guest evaluations

Make a Final Presentation, 15 minutes long, with 10-30 slides, including 2-3 sentence captions on each slide

Give presentation of final project to the class/special guests
Captions have to explain each photo in 2-3 sentences
CITE YOUR SOURCES! (In the captions–source of photos, images, maps, words, and ideas)

Due Dates:
Layout/design section draft due: 11/5
Construction section draft due: 11/10
Maintenance section draft due: 11/10
Wayfinding section draft due: 11/12
Interpretation section draft due: 11/12
Photos/drawings (before/after, specifications, aerial, etc.) section draft due: 11/17
Map(s)—GIS? Google Earth? Other? section draft due: 11/17
Economic impact section draft due: 11/19
Environmental impact section draft due: 11/19
Societal impact section draft due: 11/19
Bibliography draft due: 11/19
Intro/Conclusion due: 11/19
FIRST DRAFT DUE (all sections assembled as one): 11/24
Practice Presentations (and classmate critiques): 12/1 and 12/3
FINAL DRAFTS DUE: 12/8
FINAL PRESENTATIONS: 12/10
Party/Evaluations: 12/15

Readings + “10 Concept” HW
Only one list is due per FINAL PROJECT group.
You can decide how to split the duties (one person per day? 3 concepts per person each day?).
If splitting the duties is too much of a challenge you all could do every homework.
I really just want the concepts we read about incorporated into your final projects.

That’s a lot! Once again, please ask me any questions you have!
Tom

Trails, fitness, selfies

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http://www.getfithv.com

http://www.getfithv.com

http://https://www.google.com/search?q=get+fit+hudson.valley&client=safari&hl=en&prmd=msivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAkQ_AUoA2oVChMInd7UqY3lyAIVSx8eCh0ijgMw#imgrc=f6DU0TbjBg2anM%3A

New plan for “rail WITH trail” in Ulster County; a solution for everyone?

Notice guest speaker Tim Weidemann quoted in the press release:

http://ulstercountyny.gov/news/executive-press-releases/ulster-county-executive-mike-hein-announces-proposal-tourism-railroad

Visual Plan:
Rail Trail Alternatives UD and OW With Air Photo Final condensed

Click to access Rail%20Trail%20Alternatives%20UD%20and%20OW%20With%20Air%20Photo%20Final%20condensed.pdf

Celebrating our Volunteers (NYNJTC event on November 7)

Please join us in Celebrating our Volunteers on Saturday, November 7, from 1 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. at the new Trail Conference headquarters (600 Ramapo Valley Rd., Mahwah, N.J.). This fun-filled day is a great way to spend time with your fellow volunteers and celebrate your accomplishments! Workshops on outdoor skills and volunteering will be offered, followed by an awards ceremony. Informational tables will also be set up to share all of the new and exciting things happening at the Trail Conference. Space is limited and RSVPs are required. A $10 donation is requested. Sign up at www.nynjtc.org/event/celebrating-our-volunteers. Feel free to contact John Leigh with any questions. Please RSVP by Friday, October 30. NEW YORK-NEW JERSEY TRAIL CONFERENCE CELEBRATING OUR VOLUNTEERS Saturday, November 7, 2015 PROGRAM 1 – 1:30 p.m. – Registration and Networking 1:30 – 3 p.m.  – Session 1 Workshops Dr. George Becker, III: “Wilderness Emergency Medicine” (Meeting Room) Get a crash course on what to do in an emergency in the woods. Ama Koenigshof: “Trail Design” (Volunteer Work Stations) What makes a good trail? Our trail builder will teach you the basics. Cliff Berchtold: “Invasive Species” (Board Room) Get an introduction to the Trail Conference’s Invasives Strike Force.  Jane Daniels:  “How to Run an Outreach Table” (Small Conference Room) Learn the techniques behind running a successful outreach table and helping to spread the Trail Conference message. 3:15 – 4:45 p.m. Session 2 Workshops Doc Bayne: “Reading the Woods” (Meeting Room) Learn how to better appreciate the woods around you when you are on the trail. Jeremy Apgar:  “Cartography” (Volunteer Work Stations) The Trail Conference’s cartographer discusses what goes into making our renowned maps. Hank Osborn: ” Map & Compass” (Board Room) Are your map and compass skills a little rusty? This class is a great way to brush up on that all-important knowledge. 5 – 5:30 p.m. – Awards Presentation (Meeting Room) 5:30 – 6:15 p.m. – Appetizers and Networking (Foyer) Award Recipients Howard Reed Susan Reed Lee Mott James Mott Martin Stratton Will Soter Irene Auleta Susan Barbuto David Haas Hannah Benesch Wendell George Arnie Seymour Alice Luddington-Cantor Suse Bell Zach Kunow Jim Gebhard Gail Neffinger John Blenninger Mahwah Environmental Volunteers Organization (MEVO)      __________________ We thank our retail sponsor

Before and After shots of the Appalachian Trail project at Bear Mountain State Park!

From their website: http://www.nynjtc.org/bearmtntrails

Jolly Rovers move mountains!

“Last weekend the Rovers returned to Hudson Highlands State Park to complete a long section of stepping stones through a boulder field for the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference’s extension of the Highlands Trail in Cold Spring, NY. Lots of rigging and lots of rock moving led to a rustic yet highly usable path through the tumble of boulders. ‪#‎nynjtc‬ ‪#‎jollyrovers‬” – from the Jolly Rovers Trail Crew Facebook Page.

The rails vs. trails debate continues…

Dutchess County Regional Trails Conference

Winnakee Land Trust presented the second Dutchess County Regional Trails Conference on October 10, 2015 at the Marist College boathouse. It was a beautiful day, a beautiful place, and an inspiring group of speakers. Tom O’Dowd of EUS Practicum fame was a speaker and panelist, representing the Town of Red Hook and partners, sharing the process and status of the Red Hook Trail Plan.

Here’s Tom’s presentation: Tom O’Dowd’s – Trails Conference Presentation

Winnakee Land Trust partnered with Dutchess County, Hudson River Valley Greenway, NYS Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation, Parks and Trails New York, NY/NJ Trail Conference, and the National Park Service Rivers and Trails Program.

The keynote speaker was Jeff Olson, from ALTA Planning + Design. He spoke about how walk/bike trails are becoming the norm, but still have a long way to go to become commonplace. He discussed his work on the Saratoga Greenbelt Trail, his work with the Citi Bikes program, and with the Walton Family Foundation (Walmart) on the trail system in and around Bentonville, Arkansas (headquarters of Walmart). He brought up the importance of trails for economic values, as shown in walkscore.com.

The East Coast Greenway

“The East Coast Greenway vision is for a long-distance, urban, shared-use trail system linking 25 major cities along the Eastern Seaboard between Calais, Maine, and Key West, Florida. It will serve non-motorized users of all abilities and ages. A 2,900-mile long spine route will be accompanied by 2,000 miles of complementary routes that link in key cities, towns, and areas of natural beauty. This green travel corridor will provide cyclists, runners, walkers, and other active-transportation users with a low-impact way to explore the Eastern Seaboard.”

From: http://www.greenway.org/about-the-greenway/ecg-vision

Appalachian Trail Project at Bear Mountain State Park – GIF!

http://www.nynjtc.org/bearmtntrails

Trail Film: “Mile… Mile & a Half”

The film Rock told the class about (on the John Muir Trail):

<p><a href=”https://vimeo.com/36675195″>MILE&#8230; MILE & A HALF (trailer 1)</a> from <a href=”https://vimeo.com/themuirproject”>The Muir Project</a> on <a href=”https://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a&gt;.</p>

Kaaterskill Falls – trail re-construction

“DEC staff and contractors will construct a new foot trail from the end of the marked Kaaterskill Falls trail at the base of the falls to the Escarpment trail at the top of the falls. This 0.2-mile trail will include construction of a new, approximately 260-foot stone staircase, with 200 stone steps.

“In addition, an approximately 300-foot spur trail will lead from the staircase to a point above the middle pool of the falls. At the end of this trail, DEC and its contractors will install another shorter set of stone stairs to provide access to the middle pool area. The stone staircase will be designed to blend in with the natural stone of the area at a location that will limit its visibility from below. DEC will also build a fully accessible trail that leads to an accessible viewing area and overlook platform at the top of the falls.

“The new trails and stone staircase will accommodate the public’s desire for access to a better view of Kaaterskill Falls and the middle pool area, while also protecting public safety. In recent years, DEC has taken additional steps to prevent people from continuing past the end of the marked Kaaterskill Falls trail, including an increased number of signs warning of potential risks, but some people ignored the warnings and put themselves in danger by continuing past the fence at the end of the trail.”

From the Facebook Page of the Mountain Top Historical Society, Haines Falls, NY.

Check out the full album here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.602645919873891.1073741847.349176725220813&type=3

Bard to purchase Montgomery Place – significant for trails?

10/1 Homework Update

Hi class,

Thanks for all of your case studies and field studies. I hope to look at them all before your presentations to be able to give you feedback if need be. If I have questions or comments I’ll try to get them to you to help improve your presentations. If you’ve had problems sending me your presentations, save them as a PDF.

Thanks for being a good audience with Tim today. He’s a great resource if you want to volunteer or do a final project on any trails or transportation projects in Kingston.

Final due date for Field Studies is Monday night. Please send a PDF version. If you’re thinking of going on a field study or volunteer project this weekend, watch out for lighting, flash floods, landslides, etc. as storms are coming in.

If you’ve forgotten to do any concepts from any of the classes thus far, you can get partial credit for them if you do them by next Thursday. The only real homework for next week is preparing for your Case Study and Field Study presentations, so hopefully you have time to catch up on your past-due assignments.

There will be a Trails Conference on Saturday October 10th at Marist College. If people are interested, LOTS of extra credit is involved :). And travel reimbursement. Ask me for more info.

Have a great weekend–we’re almost to Fall Break!

Tom

Rubric for Case Study, Field Study, and Volunteer Project assignments

Hi class,

I’ll see you soon, but I wanted to give you a heads-up. I have enjoyed perusing the Case Study slide shows as they’ve come in. Some of them are good and some of them could be better. I had intended to give y’all a rubric for how I’ll judge the case studies (to give you a little bit more guidance), but I didn’t. I’m attaching one now. HERE:

Rubric for Case Study, Field Study, and Volunteer Project assignments

If anyone would like to make a second draft of their Case Study presentation document (simple edits to your existing slides for most of you) I would welcome that. Just turn it in before next Tuesday.

The rubric also works for your Field Study assignments. Since those are not due to Thursday (and some of you have asked for extensions) I expect you to follow the rubric when making your field study presentation.

The attached doc also has a volunteer project rubric, since some of you are ahead of the game. This rubric could change, but not drastically.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Tom

The Appalachian Trail at Bear Mountain – GIF shows progress of trail construction!

Homework Update – Tuesday 9/29

Hello class,

Tomorrow we will be travelling to Kingston to see a rail trail under (re) construction with an urban planner that has worked closely with the project. Please be at our class at 3:10 (or earlier) or you will be left behind (and forced to do make-up homework). We will be aiming to be back at 4:30.

This week the Case Study and Field Study are both due (tomorrow and Thursday, respectively). I would prefer to have these assignments in a day before class (today and Wednesday, respectively), but I will be open to requests for extending the duedate for the FIELD STUDY if it helps you get to your field sites. You have to officially request this though.

Volunteer project due 10/22; Presentations 10/29. Some folks have already begun their volunteer project. It’s possible to complete such a project in one day (as long as your volunteer day meets my criteria). I hadn’t included a supervisor evaluation form, so it’s now on the website (HERE). I also hadn’t included a duedate for the project or a date for the volunteer project presentations, which I have included now (see syllabus). If you were thinking of a volunteer project past 10/22, please speak to me.

Extra credit opportunity! I hope you had a great weekend. Ella and Olivia and I had fun learning about the Hudson River on Saturday for an October 20th event called Day in the Life of the Hudson River–I have cancelled class for that day, and if you’re free any other times that day, we would love to have you join us as volunteers. See photos on EUS FB page.

Please let me know if you have any questions!
Tom

New trail in Hyde Park

The Winnakee Land Trust is one of the partners in creating the Hyde Park Trail system (we’re visitng the National Park Service part of the system today). Check Winnakee’s new trail, started this week: https://www.facebook.com/winnakeeland/posts/819678468148807

Hyde Park Sign Building Workshop – Photos!

Hyde Park Sign Building Workshop –

We had a great time at our sign-making workshop. For the first time, Hyde Park Trails welcomed anyone interested in…

Posted by Hyde Park Trail on Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Homework Update – Tuesday 9/22

Dear Class,

Thanks for a fun visit to Poet’s Walk on Thursday. I appreciate that you all were on time, engaged, and that you picked up the pace when I realized we were running out of time. I hope everyone made their next class/meeting/dinner with enough time to spare. Extra credit all around.

Speaking of Extra Credit, I did not ask you to come up with Top Ten concepts for the readings, but I hope you will. Consider it extra credit, but it will help you be a better audience for Karl Beard on Tuesday. Speaking of Karl, you might want to look at the website for the National Parks Service program he works for: http://www.nps.gov/orgs/rtca/index.htm.

As for homework I did ask for, the Volunteer Project Proposal is due Tuesday. I want very simple information on a single document that you can email me: Which organization you propose to work with, who the contact person(s) will be, what duties you plan to do, and what date(s) you plan to volunteer. Please also note your transportation possibilities. For this project, I encourage you to work with 1-4 others on the same project(s) to make transportation easier. You can carpool together or request transportation help from me. Include this all (and any other questions you have) in your proposal due Tuesday. If you can go alone, feel free!

For the Field Study if it makes sense to carpool with others, do so, but there should be only one trail per person.

Check out the detailed descriptions for all the assignments. If you have questions, let me know, and I can update the assignments as needed!
https://eus305sustainabletraildesign.wordpress.com/assignments-detailed-descriptions/

Thank you for your engagement in the class so far, and I look forward to our guest speaker on Tuesday and our Field Trip on Thursday! We will meet at 3:10 in the classroom and return at 5:00 PM!

Tom

Quotes from NYNJTC Supervisor 101 course, 9/13/15

“Try to build a trail that doesn’t need erosion control” – Jane Daniels

“If you can hike on a trail, you can volunteer on a trail” – Jane Daniels (paraphrasing a crew leader who often asks people to volunteer but often gets the response “I don’t have enough time”).

Jane Daniels is a workshop and crew leader for NYNJTC. She received the State Trail Worker Award in May 2013 (article).

Extra Credit Opportunity: Public Information Meeting discussing the Hudson Valley Rail Trail West

Ulster County Executive Mike Hein and the Ulster County Department of Planning are pleased to invite you to a Public Information Meeting discussing the Hudson Valley Rail Trail West- Phase 4 project.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 30, 2015 at 7 p.m. at the Town of Lloyd Town Hall at 12 Church Street in Highland.

Information on the meeting and trail extension project are overviewed in this flyer and press release, available on the County’s website at:
http://ulstercountyny.gov/news/executive-press-releases/ulster-county-executive-mike-hein-invites-public-informational-meeting

I hope you can join us for the meeting on September 30, and I appreciate you sharing this invitation with anyone who might be interested in this project.

Sincerely,
Chris

Chris White
Deputy Director
Ulster County Planning Department
244 Fair Street, PO Box 1800
Kingston, NY 12402
(845) 340-3338
(845) 340-3429 (fax)
cwhi@co.ulster.ny.us

Homework for Tuesday 9/15: reading and questions

I updated the syllabus to include a copy of the required article rather than a link: 

Tues

9/15

Hiking Trail Triage

Walk & Talk Bard Trails with Leigh Draper

A Trail Designers Job – Get Inside Hikers Minds (with photos) or A Trail Designers Job – Get Inside Hikers Minds (no photos); AMC’s Complete Guide: Chapter 7

Explore Bard/DEC trails w/this map. List & Define Top 10 concepts from reading

Also, here are the questions our guest trip leader Leigh Draper asked that you answer:

1. Look for signs of erosion and pooled water in your everyday life. (Name two)
2. Identify where the water is coming from and where it is going?
3. Was the area designed to drain water? How?
4. Are there structures (culverts, dips, curbs, drains, etc.) there to help drain water? Name them.
5. Are the structures working? Are they placed at the lowest point that water can collect?

The US Surgeon General says “Solvitor Ambulando” (essentially…)

Surgeon General Murthy says walking one of the best steps to health:
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/calls/walking-and-walkable-communities/index.html

He also provides mini-grants for communities that increase and improve walking and walking capacity!
http://americawalks.org/call-to-action-every-body-walk-collaborative-micro-grants/

Building a Better Broadway public comments

Below you’ll find a letter from the planner in charge of the project in Kingston, NY called Building a Better Broadway. He shared a link of all the public comments. I gave my comment, which is included in his email (and that link). Pretty simple public participation process, but important! -Tom

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Greetings,

All comments received during the Building a Better Broadway public comment period are now posted online at the following address:

http://ulstercountyny.gov/sites/default/files/documents/planning/BBB_Draft%20Plan%20Public%20Comments_Final.pdf

Thank you again for your submission; the Technical Advisory Committee will be meeting during the month of September to review all comments and discuss any necessary revisions.

bcs
_______________________________
Brian C. Slack, AICP
Principal Transportation Planner
Ulster County Transportation Council
PO Box 1800
Kingston, NY   12402
Tel:  845-334-5590
http://ulstercountyny.gov/planning/transportation

From:        “Tom O’Dowd”
To:        bsla@co.ulster.ny.us
Date:        08/21/2015 09:14 AM
Subject:        Protected Bike Lane, Broadway, Kingston

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Dear Mr. Slack,

I am a resident of Kingston, NY, and I support the protected bikelane as proposed by the consultants (VHB). I live downtown and I travel uptown on Broadway frequently. A protected bikelane would be good for me, my friends, people coming to or from the many businesses in my neighborhood, and the many families with children in my neighborhood. If parking spaces on Broadway itself need to be sacrificed in order to make the bike lane, I am for it, though I do believe there are workable solutions to direct drivers to near-Broadway, off-Broadway parking.

Thank you for your consideration,
Tom O’Dowd

—
Tom O’Dowd
Executive Administrator
Environmental and Urban Studies (EUS)
Bard College

Urban Walkability Innovations

Changing a road median into a canal? Covering a highway with a pedestrian plaza? Going on a “road diet”. It’s all in here with beautiful photos:

http://www.techinsider.io/urbi-before-after-gallery-2015-8

Finding Trails and Volunteer Opportunities

Date	Volunteer Opportunity	Organization	Duties	Location	Hours	Contact Person	Contact Email	Contact Phone
Hiking Trails & Rail Trails Nearby
MANY	Rail Trails in the Area		https://www.traillink.com/viewnationalmap.aspx
MANY	Hikes in the Area		http://hudsonrivervalleyramble.com/Events.aspx
	The Devil’s Path		http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/trips/best-trails/worlds-thrilling-hikes-trails/?kwp_0=28423&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=SocialAds&utm_content=link_fb20150701adv-thrillhikes&utm_campaign=Content&kwp_4=185706&kwp_1=173321#/devils-path-catskills_79901_600x450.jpg
Work Days
MANY	MANY: http://www.nynjtc.org/view/trail-crew-outings	NYNJTC			1-8	Sona Mason	SMasoan@nynjtc.org
MANY	MANY: http://www.scenichudson.org/events	Scenic Hudson			1-8	Anthony Coneski	aconeski@scenichudson.org
9/5	The Nor’Westers trail crew	NYNJTC	Stepping stones, reinforcing, blazing	Black Rock Forest	1-6	Sandy Cascio	sandy.cascio@yahoo.com
9/6	The Nor’Westers trail crew	NYNJTC	Stepping stones, reinforcing, blazing	Black Rock Forest	1-6	Sandy Cascio	sandy.cascio@yahoo.com
9/26	National Public Lands Day event at Bear Mountain	NYNJTC			1-8	Ama Koenigshof	ama@nynjtc.org
?	Norrie Point River Trail	NYNJTC	Trail Maintenance	Norrie Point	1-4	Georgette Weir	georgette.weir@gmail.com
Trail University Days
9/12	Bear Mountain – Introduction to Trail Structures	NYNJTC	Learn when and how to construct different trail structures.	Bear Mountain	1-8	Ama Koenigshof	ama@nynjtc.org	616-337-2481
9/20	Intro to Sidehill Trail Construction	NYNJTC	Learn to build a trail that lasts.	Hudson Highlands State Park, Nelsonville, NY	1-7	Hank Osborn	hosborn@nynjtc.org
9/24	Introduction to Hand Saws	NYNJTC	Learn about using handsaws on Catskills trails!	Onterora Lake (near Kingston)	1-4	Heather Rolland	catskills@nynjtc.org	518-628-4243
9/27	Tread and Drainage: Sidehilling Trail	NYNJTC	Learn how to build new trail while managing for aesthetics and drainage.	Sterling Forest State Park, Tuxedo Park, NY	1-7	Sona Mason	smason@nynjtc.org	201-512-9348 x16
10/3	Intro to Stepping Stones	NYNJTC	Learn how to properly construct stepping stones	Fahnestock State Park, Carmel, NY	1-7	Hank Osborn	hosborn@nynjtc.org
10/11	Introduction to Trail Maintenance: Fall Clip-n-Hike	NYNJTC	Learn how to Clip-n-Hike on the southern Shawangunk Ridge, and see the new trails and access points that have been created.	Huckleberry Ridge State Forest, NY	1-4	Sona Mason	SMasoan@nynjtc.org	201-512-9348 x16
Trail-related activities
?	Red Hook Trails Committee Meetings	Red Hook Trails Committee	Take Notes/Report Back	Red Hook	1-2	Brenda Cagle	brendacagle@yahoo.com
9/18	Table for the Kingston Point Rail Trail	Kingston Land Trust	Table at Night Market	Kingston	1-4	Tim Weidemann	tim@rondoutconsulting.com
10/16	Table for the Kingston Point Rail Trail	Kingston Land Trust	Table at Night Market	Kingston	1-4	Tim Weidemann	tim@rondoutconsulting.com
10/19	Trails Conference	Winnakee Land Trust	Take Notes/Report Back	Marist College	1-8	Tom O’Dowd	todowd@bard.edu
TUESDAYS	MANY	Kingston Land Trust	Trail walk/clean-ups	Kingston	1-2	Tim Weidemann	tim@rondoutconsulting.com
Tangentially-related activities
10/20	Day in the Life of the Hudson River	Bard & HREP	Teach students about HR	Bard	1-8	Tom O’Dowd	todowd@bard.edu
11/18	Talk: “Access for All”	Mohonk Preserve	Take Notes/Report Back	Hyde Park?	1-8	Tom O’Dowd	todowd@bard.edu

minor syllabus/homework update

Check out how the readings have changed a little on these THREE dates:

Tues	9/15	Hiking Trail Triage	Walk & Talk Bard Trails with Leigh Draper	“A Trail Designer’s Job” (WSJ); AMC’s Complete Guide: Chapter 7	Explore Bard/DEC trails w/this map. List & Define Top 10 concepts from reading
Thur	9/17	Trail Experience	Quiz; Poet’s Walk + Park Quest; Choose vol. org(s).	With People in Mind: Chapter 6;AMC’s Complete Guide: Chapter 9; NYNJTC blog: “When is a hike really a hike?”	List & Define Top 10 concepts from reading;What’s your trail etiquette?

Tuesday the 22nd will remain the same.

Thur OR FRIDAY

9/24 OR 9/25

Multi-Use Trails

Field trip to Hyde Park w/Karl Beard (FRIDAY AT 2PM WILL GIVE US MORE TIME)

Peruse these Hyde Park Trail Maps; Active Living

List & Define Top 10 concepts from the Visit from Karl Beard

Cool Trail Hiking Videos

PCT: a photo per minute: http://www.sunnyskyz.com/happy-videos/2747/He-Hiked-From-Mexico-To-Canada-And-Filmed-One-Second-Each-Day-This-Is-What-He-Saw

PCT: a photo per MILE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyo8OIp7aHM

Extra Credit: Participate in these Trail-related Public Processes

Fill out this survey about the Upper 9G Corridor:
http://www.upperroute9g.com/

Fill out this survey about the Hook Trail:
http://www.hooktrail.com/#!survey/cqai

Give feedback on Building a Better Broadway:
http://ulstercountyny.gov/planning/broadway-corridor

EXTREME Extra Credit: Attend the National Walking Summit

2015 National Walking Summit Welcomes Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx We are excited to announce that US Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx will speak at the 2015 National Walking Summit. Secretary Foxx has already put his feet on the ground with his Mayors’ Challenge for Safer People, Safer Streets and other initiatives to promote his commitment to safe walking conditions. As the former Mayor of Charlotte, NC, Secretary Foxx knows the importance of investing safe walkable communities. At the 2015 National Walking Summit, you will hear firsthand how Secretary Foxx and the US Department of Transportation are implementing strategies to create a more walkable America. Join Secretary Foxx and other walking leaders in Washington, DC in October. Check out the full program of the 2015 National Walking Summit  and registertoday! Register Today! Have questions?  Contact the 2015 National Walking Summit at walkingsummit@americawalks.org

Quotes

“You never know what’s around the corner. It could be everything. Or it could be nothing. You keep putting one foot in front of the other, and then one day you look back and you’ve climbed a mountain.” — Tom Hiddleston

“Solvitor Ambulando.”

The Tibetan word shul means “a mark that remains after that which made it has passed by–a footprint, for example. In other contexts, shul is used to describe the scarred hollow in the ground where a house once stood, the channel worn through rock where a river runs in flood, the indentation in the grass where an animal slept last night. All of these are shul: the impression of something that used to be there. A path is a shul because it is an impression in the ground left by the regular tread of feet, which has kept it clear of obstructions and maintained it for the use of others.”
-Rebecca Solnit, A Field Guide to Getting Lost

Extra Credit: Attend and Summarize this landscape architecture talk

The Art History Program presents

a Lecture Mark R. Eischeid, Asst. Professor of Landscape Architecture, University of Oregon Exploding the Infinite: The Sublime Landscapes of Dan Kiley Thursday, September 10, 2015 11:50 a.m. — 1:00 p.m. Campus Center, Weis Cinema The perception or suggestion of the infinite has been cited as one of the mechanisms by which we judge an object or an environment to be sublime.  In A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful, Edmund Burke described the “artificial infinite” as one of the identifying characteristics of the sublime.  Burke suggests that the artificial infinite can be expressed as a sequence or repetition of uniform elements or as spaces with obscured or indeterminate boundaries or limits.  Dan Kiley, a pioneering and distinguished practitioner of 20th century modernist landscape architecture, consistently spoke of his desire to express a sense of infinity in his designed landscapes. Kiley’s design philosophy parallels Burke’s definitions, as evidenced through selected design projects, writings, and interviews.  Kiley’s use of the grid to repeat landscape elements (trees, hedges, lights, benches) through various landscape types (allées, avenues, bosques, orchards), coincident with the creation of continuous spaces and indeterminate boundaries, exemplify how he intended to create a sense of infinity in his designed landscapes.  This talk will illustrate Kiley’s expression of the artificial infinite through his work at the Miller Garden (1955, Columbus, Indiana), North Christian Church (1964, Columbus, Indiana), and the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park (1988, Kansas City, Missouri) based on recent fieldwork. For more information: contact Professor Olga Touloumi at 845-758-4388, or e-mailotouloum@bard.edu.

Case Study assignment: some ideas for you

Perhaps you might case study one of these fascinating trails for us (curated by National Geographic):

The EUS Practicum, Fall 2015

Welcome to Sustainable Trail Design!

Use the menu above to navigate to the syllabus, the lecture slides, the assignment descriptions, and the final assignment submissions.

Happy trails!

Tom