After 69 years of service, Bob Ward retired from his volunteer role as our Queens Rockaways Trail Supervisor on Nov. 1. Bob also resigned from his chairmanship of the Queens Trails Council on Oct. 23. The Queens Borough Commissioner of Parks presented Bob with the new sign that will be placed on the Bayswater Trail
This year, the Trail Conference’s Trail Steward Program became part of the Conservation Corps. Serving five days a week for six months, Stewards are able to perform more duties than in previous seasons, when they were on trails only on weekends. In addition to assisting and educating trail users on Saturdays and Sundays, Trail Stewards are available to
Joshua Howard has been named Executive Director of the Trail Conference. An 18-year member of the staff, he assumed a co-leadership role as Chief Operating Officer in March, serving alongside Chief Financial Officer Mary Perro. Since then, Josh has been responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Trail Conference, with Mary responsible for all financial
Graffiti and litter are often cited as some of the biggest issues resulting from the popularity of Breakneck Ridge. In an attempt to mitigate the problem, Volunteer Trail Steward Andre Nizarri not only teaches visitors about Leave No Trace principles; he also works to remedy the damage by picking up trash and removing graffiti (above) when on duty. Find out
On Oct. 19, the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference turned 99 years old. That’s nearly a century of service in the greater New York metropolitan area, ensuring open space is protected and people have access to the outdoors via safe, well-maintained trails. Though the landscape where we serve looks very different from what it was
How is the Trail Conference celebrating turning 99 years old? By thanking YOU! When New York State began developing parks such as Harriman and Bear Mountain in the 1920s, passionate hikers seized the opportunity to lend their expertise to develop marked trail systems, opening the outdoors to the general public. They felt a responsibility to care
The Nominating Committee of the Trail Conference presents the following candidates for the Board of Directors for three-year terms and At-Large Voting Members for one-year terms. These nominations will be voted on at the Annual Meeting to be held on Sunday, Nov. 17, at Trail Conference Headquarters (600 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, N.J.). David Felsenthal David has been a
The Ashokan Rail Trail, a long-awaited multi-use trail in Ulster County, New York, will be opened to the public on Friday, Oct. 18. The trail—running along the northern edge of the Ashokan Reservoir between Basin Road in West Hurley and Route 28A in Boiceville—is opening just in time to enjoy the best of fall outdoors in
“Digital reporting is coming soon!” … It’s a promise that’s been made for years. I’ve been asked about the status of it time and again. I was handed the task of working with our tech staff to bring online reporting to fruition soon after I was brought on board as the Volunteer Engagement Manager in
Long-distance trails give us the opportunity to connect with nature and push our limits, and 2019 has been a record-breaking year for the Long Path and Shawangunk Ridge Trail! New Record for the Long Path: Jeff Adams The 358-mile Long Path extends from 175th Street Subway Station in Manhattan to John Boyd Thacher State Park near Albany, and one
The Trail Conference is a volunteer-powered organization, and volunteers contribute a lot of hard work needed to fulfill our mission. Our goal has always been to support these volunteers, which is why the Trail Conference is repealing its long-time policy that volunteers must purchase a membership to hold positions as Trail Maintainers, Supervisors, Chairs, or Crew Leaders. This change goes
Congratulations to Bryce and Donald Hopper on completing their Long Path thru-hike in July. The father-daughter pair hiked 358 miles in just 21 days! Bryce is a 16-year-old National Honor Society (NHS) student at Rondout Valley High School in Ulster County, N.Y. Each year, NHS members must select a personal project that benefits the community at
