Do you know of a trail that provides unique opportunities, encourages and celebrates diverse user groups, or simply enhances your community? Nominate it for the Pennsylvania Trail of the Year!

The Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee is currently accepting nominations for the 2025 Trail of the Year. Nominations will be reviewed by a panel of judges composed of Trails Advisory Committee members, and judging will be based on the information gathered from this questionnaire and supporting materials.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Any land-based trail, non-motorized and motorized, can be nominated.
• The trail must be open to the public.
• If the nominating entity is not the trail management organization, nominators are encouraged to work with the trail management organization to submit a nomination and to avoid multiple nominations for the same trail.
• A letter of support is required from the trail management organization if the nominating entity is not the trail management organization.

If your trail is selected as the Trail of the Year, the trail management organization will be the recipient of the award.

The Trail of the Year will be announced in early 2025 and will be recognized by:

• News release by DCNR and the Trails Advisory Committee
• Commemorative poster for statewide distribution
• Trailhead marker
• Promotion on the DCNR website and the PA Greenways and Trails website
• A grant for educational projects, specifically those promoting safety and environmental protection on the trail

For consideration, please submit the form with supporting documents by November 1, 2024:

• Completed Nomination Form
• A detailed color Trail Map
• Letters of Support – 5-10 letters are recommended from various sources. Examples may include letters from trail users, volunteers, and/or general supporters; county and municipal officials; non-profit and conservation organizations; local business owners, etc. If the nominator is not associated with the trail management organization, a letter of support will be required from the trail management organization.
• At least three (3) digital color photographs

Questions can be directed to Leslie Sarvis, DCNR Greenways & Trails Specialist, at lsarvis@pa.gov.

PE Main

Contact Information

First Name **	Last Name **
Nominating Organization (if applicable) *	Address *
City *	State * Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
Zip Code *	Phone (XXX-XXX-XXXX) *
Email ***

Trail Information

Trail Name *	Trail Management Organization *

Trail Location

County(s) *	Municipality(s) *

Starting Point Latitude *	Starting Point Longitude *	Ending Point Latitude *	Ending Point Longitude *

Trail Description

Length *	Surface Type *	Uses Permitted *

Narrative Questions

1. Provide a brief history of past uses and any efforts that may have occurred to develop the trail (300-word limit). *
2. Describe ongoing efforts to close gaps along the trail and/or what has been done to successfully close trail gaps (300-word limit). *
3. Provide specific examples of how the community and/or volunteers have been engaged throughout the development and management of this trail (300-word limit). *
4. Describe Best Management Practices implemented in the development and maintenance of this trail (300-word limit). *
5. Describe the beneficial economic, environmental, and social impacts of this trail (300-word limit). *
6. How will the Trail of the Year designation be used to promote or advance future use of this trail (300-word limit)? *
7. What is the trail management organization trying to accomplish with this trail over the next 5 years (300-word limit)? *
8. In one sentence, why should this trail be the next Pennsylvania Trail of the Year? *
9. The funding for this grant limits its use to educational projects which promote safety and environmental protection on trails. Please select the option that would best serve your trail group: The dropdown on the right allows multiple selections.

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