Date: Friday, April 18
Cost: $350
Level: Applicable to all levels
Maximum: 12 students

Field Site: Governor Nelson State Park

Schedule:
8:30-9:15am: Overview + Tailgate Safety
9:15-Noon: On & Off-trail Walk & Talk + 1/3 + Flagging demonstrations
12 pm: lunch (included)
12:45- 3pm: Trail Design + 4-Season Use
3-4:30pm: Reflections + Q & A + Remove Participant Flagging

This interactive workshop explores a PTBA member-designed trail reroute proposed for a popular trail near the conference center. The 1.2-mile Woodland Trail traverses oak woodland and rolling prairie terrain at Governor Nelson State Park. A 4-season interpretive trail managed for foot travel, the defining features of the project include a group of 6 conical and 2 Panther mounds that are being impacted by user encroachment. Near the mounds, sections of trail have widened, becoming rutted, and are actively eroding. Lunch will be in the field. Topics addressed include trail assessment, trail layout, and the architecture of trail management strategies.

Learning Objectives

1) Participants will learn what tread watersheds are and how trail shapes influence trail erosion and the user experience.

2) Participants will learn and be able to demonstrate the difference between the half-rule and the one-over-three rule.

3) Participants will learn pin and ribbon flagging techniques to more clearly visualize and effectively communicate trail development concepts with clients, colleagues, and the public.

4) Participants will have increased awareness of personal bias in trail development decision making.

Instructor

Tim Malzhan, Trail Eyes (PTBA Member Company)

Tim Malzhan founded Trail Eyes in 2020, transitioning to the private sector from 20 years of service in the National Trails System. Throughout his 23 years as a professional trail builder Tim consistently demonstrates an insightful ability to diagnose and address landscape scale challenges.