If you would like to know more about the Alabama Recreational Trails Commission Bill, you can click here to access two documents that the commision organizers have used to explain and promote Act 2010-585 (How it is organized and what it will do), the Alabama Recreational Trails Commission and
one document of the Act as signed into law last week by the Governor.
The Commission aims to gather, catalog, analyze and coordinate existing, planned and desired recreational trails of all types. In the past, a similar commission (but not legislated) conferred twice a year under the auspices of ADECA to further hiking, biking, off-road, and equestrian trails. Because no river trail existed when the commission was formed, there was no official place at the table for the ASRT, though we have conistently been invited to participate as a de facto member.
This legislation fixes that problem and brings together the highest
levels of business, organizations and governments to address the
evolution of recreational trails in our state.
ALABAMA TRAILS COMMISSION
What it’s all about. The Commission’s purpose would be to make Alabama a nationally recognized destination for hiking, biking, running, horseback riding, motorized off-highway vehicles, and water sports by citizens and visitors alike. It would employ a ground-up, statewide coordinated approach fostering vigorous participation by local, regional, state and federal agencies, stakeholders, higher education centers, and non-profit organizations. The ultimate framework would link trails with people; people with their communities; and explorers of all ages with Alabama’s wild places. Wherever possible the Commission would look to local needs, goals and leadership to accomplish its mission. Expanded list of goals are stated in the Bill.
In all the following, convene and work with the Alabama Trails Commission Advisory Board to be created under the legislation.
First likely job: inventory and mapping. Identify and evaluate existing green and blue trails, whether civic- or citizen-generated and maintained. Rate their difficulty, maintenance, and adjacent support including medical aid.
Second: exploring local and regional goals. Determine leadership and citizen interest in improving and extending existing trails and establishing new ones. Learn where they believe trails – green or blue - should interconnect, and how. Circulate such information - what’s in place, what’s under way and what’s wanted – to all relevant stakeholders, bridging information gaps now existing at ground level and among operating agencies.
Third: state level planning. Working with ADECA, ALDOT, ADCNR, and Tourism, propose elements of an interconnected trail system to help implement the current Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (“SCORP” 2008-2012) and assist in preparing SCORP 2012-2017. Targeted state assets: recreation, transportation, ecology, tourism, agriculture, economic development, energy, commerce, arts and culture, research, health and education.
Fourth: propose progress milestones and maintenance policies. Assist local, regional, state and Federal agencies and private landowners in development planning and in assuring long term trail viability. Encourage public-private partnerships to develop and manage trails.
Fifth: set up a 501(c)(3) affiliate and coordinate with it. Empower the latter aggressively to serve beyond the normal purview of government, such as in seeking voluntary donations, coordinating with state and national institutions of like purpose, and supporting education in civic recreation.
Sixth: assure effective use of Federal funding. Work closely with local, state, and federal agencies to encourage use of Federal funds to develop and improve the Trails system, and assure that the Commission’s non-profit affiliate does the same.
How it’s put together
Commission: formed in and initially supported by ADECA, composed of twelve members:
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4 appointed from the many varied trail user communities: two by the Governor, one by the Lieutenant Governor, one by the Speaker of the House.
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5 appointed from State agencies: one each from ADECA, ALDOT, Tourism, ADCNR, and one from the Governor’s staff.
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1 appointed by the Governor from the twelve regional planning councils on two-year rotation.
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1 appointed by their respective bodies on two-year alternation between county and municipal governments.
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1 appointed by BCA.
Term length, reappointment eligibility vary in the Bill’s provisions.
Advisory Board: formed in and initially supported by ADECA, composed of 17 members:
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2 Senators, appointed by the Lieutenant Governor.
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2 House Members, appointed by the Speaker of the House.
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3 Alabama Recreational Trails Advisory Board members rotating among their membership
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1 university representative, appointed by the Governor.
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8 comprising one each from the Alabama State Forestry Commission, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, the Alabama Department of Health, the Retirement Systems of Alabama, the Alabama Farmers Federation, the Natural Resources Conservation Services, the U.S. Forestry Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
1 in two year rotation between Alabama Power and TVA.
Term length, reappointment eligibility vary in the Bill’s provisions.
