Getting to Know the Capital Trails Coalition
By Ken Shuck
If you live in the Washington DC metropolitan area (i.e., the District, Alexandria, and the counties of Prince Georges, Montgomery, Arlington, and Fairfax), are you aware that there are over 450 miles of multiuse trails available to you? Or that there is an organization, the Capital Trails Coalition (CTC), working to create and support those trails? Do you know that the AMC Potomac Chapter is a member of the CTC?
The Chapter is looking for ways to support the CTC’s vision which is: “The Capital Trails Coalition seeks to create a world-class network of multi-use trails that are equitably distributed throughout the Washington D.C. metropolitan region. The regional trails network will transform public life by providing healthy, low-stress access to open space and reliable transportation for people of all ages and abilities.”
If you are interested in finding out more about the CTC, check out the August 1, 2020 Washington Post article .
Two ways to provide support the CTC’s vision is through working with volunteer groups maintaining and promoting individual trails in the network and conducting outdoor use (e.g., hiking, walking, and bicycling) of the trail network and advertising the benefit of having those trails nearby. In April 2021, the CTC presented “The Economic, Health, and Environmental Benefits of Completing the Capital Trails Network” that provides detailed information on why the trail network and the expansion of those trails provides a significant benefit.
Is there a part of the CTC trail network that you enjoy walking, hiking, or bicycling on? If so, why? Is there some way the experience could be better? Would you like to see the Potomac Chapter conduct activities on your favorite local CTC trails, which ones? What about working with the Potomac Chapter to provide assistance to other CTC trail volunteer support groups? If so, the Potomac Chapter’s CTC representatives, Ken Shuck and Nina Cicero (trails@amcpotomac.org) would like to hear from you.
