Project Planning and Design

Project Planning and Design Skills Include:

    Project Cost Estimation

    Ability to determine cost of project construction, maintenance and related oversight, permitting and planning (including tools, consumables, volunteer and staff time, equipment, materials), locating sources of professional and technical assistance, and evaluating contract proposals.

    Implementation Plan

    Accurately interpret specifications, construction process notes, and construction documents to develop an implementation plan based on available labor and funding.

    Trail Specifications

    Identify trail elements (i.e. tread material, width, height, grades, and structures) that are appropriate for the intended use, resource conditions, budget, and stewardship capacity.

    Design

    Delineate the trail alignment, width, height, grade and structures appropriate to the intended trail use.

    Trail Plans

    Transfer field-delineated trail design (location, alignment, structures), along with construction process, materials, notes, special conditions into a document that will guide the trail development process.

    Interpretation

    Identify specific interpretive and educational opportunities on trails to contextualize the visitor experience (e.g., history, habitats, scenery, flora/fauna), and make recommendations for interpretive method.

    Permitting

    Ensure compliance with applicable permitting requirements including (but not limited to): National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), Section 106 of the Antiquities Act, the Historic Preservation Act, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), local and regional permitting, water/wetland crossings, environmental review compliance, etc.

    Universal Design/ADA Accessibility

    Use universal design principles, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Architectural Barriers Act accessibility standards to design, layout, and lead construction of accessible trail and trail facilities.


Learn More

Resources for Project Planning and Design

Introduction to Trail Assessment Using UTAP and HETAP
Introduction to Trail Assessment Using UTAP and HETAP

This webinar will discuss the assessment work that Beneficial Designs does in regards to the Universal Trail Assessment Process (UTAP) and the High-Efficiency Trail Assessment Process (HETAP) and how the data is collected and can be viewed by the…

United States Access Board - Outdoor Developed Areas
United States Access Board - Outdoor Developed Areas

The Access Board is responsible for developing accessibility guidelines for the construction and alteration of facilities covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) of 1968.

Approvals, Permits, and Compliance
Approvals, Permits, and Compliance

This webinar will walk through the typical processes, jurisdictions, timelines, and documentation needed to get a conceptual trail project through approval and implementation.

THE INTERTWINE Regional Trails Signage Guidelines
THE INTERTWINE Regional Trails Signage Guidelines

This manual serves as a technical resource to guide parks and transportation agencies as they plan, design, and fabricate wayfinding signage along regional trails in the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area.

Further Education

Related Training Programs

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Upcoming Trainings for Project Planning and Design

Move United Education Conference
Move United
Move United
Move United Education Conference

April 22 - 24, 2024

2024 Columbia Cascades Trail Skills College
Pacific Crest Trail Association
Pacific Crest Trail Association
2024 Columbia Cascades Trail Skills College

April 26 - 28, 2024

Cascade Locks, Oregon

California Trails & Greenways 2024
California Trails and Greenways Foundation (CTGF)
California Trails and Greenways Foundation (CTGF)
California Trails & Greenways 2024

April 30 - May 03, 2024

Custom Trainings

There are 52 trainers on TrailSkills
with Project Planning and Design experience.

Rachel

Rachel Franchina

Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals

Trainer Nonprofit

Evergreen, CO

Rachel Franchina spent 20 years working for the U.S. Forest Service as a recreation program…

Sarah

Sarah Walter

Penn Trails LLC

Contractor Trainer

Carlisle, PA

Sarah is a licensed Landscape Architect in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, with prior experience in…

Conor

Conor Boynton-Orr

Contractor Trainer Corps

Walsenburg, CO

I am the director of the Huerfano Youth Conservation Corps and I work as an instructor of Trail…

Mike

Mike Passo

American Trails

Contractor Trainer Nonprofit

Bellingham, WA

<p>Mike Passo is the Executive Director of American Trails. Mike has also served as the Executive…

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Hire Workers

There are 195 profiles on TrailSkills
with Project Planning and Design experience.

Craig

Craig Benton

Higher Education

Ottsville, PA

Kathleen

Kathleen Ports

Bedford Conservation Commission

Agency

Bedford, NH

I serve as the liaison to the Bedford Conservation Commission, who own numerous properties with…

Walt

Walt Bready

Contractor Trainer Nonprofit

Blairsville, GA

Walt Bready is the former State of Georgia Trails Education Specialist and current owner of Trails…

Backcountry

Backcountry Trails

California Conservation Corps (CCC)

Corps

Fortuna, CA

The Backcountry Trails Program started in 1979 and is the longest running special program of the…

Melissa

Melissa Padilla

Nonprofit

Pollock Pines, CA

I am the treasurer for Mother Lode Trail Stewardship. We are a new stewardship that started in 2020…

Ryan

Ryan King

Contractor

Indianapolis, IN

Landscape Architect for BF&amp;S responsible for the design and development of park, trail, site…

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Trail Skills Collaborators
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American Trails Professional TrailBuilders Association Partnership for the National Trails System Northern Vermont University Northwest Arkansas Community College Eppley Institute Corps Network