Allegheny Trail Alliance News Conference Sessions

The First ATA World Wide Conference 1999

Friday, January 29, 1999 4 p.m. to Saturday, January 30, 1999, 3 p.m. 
St. Joseph’s Center Greensburg PA (Directions)

"Pittsburgh to Cumberland: A NATIONAL Trail?"

Part of our trail system is already designated as a National Trail. Should the remaining sections of the Pittsburgh to Cumberland Trail be included also? Discuss advantages and disadvantages and process for moving forward. And is it time to name this trail?
Speakers (tentative) Don Briggs, National Park Service Ed Deaton, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Membership: "Should we think "globally?"

The backbone of our trails is our members and our volunteers. Recruitment and sustaining trail council memberships is critical, but often difficult and time-consuming. Can the ATA help develop a "global" strategy to assist with this challenge. This session will explore different models for trail membership development, lead by a team from the Leadership Pittsburgh class who is working with the ATA.

Newsletters: How to sustain/ how to share

Similar to membership, newsletters can often become a burden to a trail organization. These provide important informational links to members and their importance cannot be overestimated. This will be a facilitated discussion to come up with ideas for member trail organizations on how to sustain their communication strategy with members.

Economic impact of our trail

Trails are becoming big business! We all have seen the new bike shops, the new deli's, the new bed & breakfasts, etc. popping up along the trail. What is the real economic value, in dollars and cents? ATA commissioned the PA Economy League and the University of Pittsburgh to conduct business and user surveys to determine the impact. The principals will present their findings.

Trails as educational opportunities

Trails are so much more than local recreation! Programs for all ages are being developed that use the trail as an educational resource. Learn how different communities and organizations are taking advantage of the trails for enrichment.

This page is part of the Allegheny Trail Alliance's site in support of the Great Allegheny Passage, a motor-free recreational rail trail connecting Pittsburgh PA and Cumberland MD. Copyright © 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001by Allegheny Trail Alliance, Bill Metzger, Mary Shaw, and Roy Weil. Amenity information courtesy of FreeWheeling Easy. We encourage you to create links to this site and to print copies of the maps for your personal use. We prohibit other uses of this site, especially if they generate spam or other mass communications -- see our Privacy Policy.. This page was last modified on 07/10/01. Send email to ATA or contact the ATA or member trails.