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.


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Resources for Project Planning and Design

Improve this skill

Upcoming trainings for Project Planning and Design

Foundations
International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA)
International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA)
Foundations

October 10 - 12, 2023

Trail Planning and Design: Foundations of Success
American Trails
American Trails

Custom Trainings

Here's a list of Trainers with Project Planning and Design experience:

Alex

Alex Bradley

Connecticut Forest and Park Association (CFPA)

Trainer Corps Nonprofit
Deno

Deno Contos

Contractor Trainer

Greenville, Sc

Benchmark Trails is a full service trail design, layout and construction firm with over 20 years of…

Andy

Andy Crowley

Contractor Trainer

Ashland, Nh

Conservation Trail Services LLC. Working with private, non-profit, and…

Walt

Walt Daniels

New York - New Jersey Trail Conference

Trainer Nonprofit
Pete

Pete Englund

Legacy Trails LLC

Contractor Trainer

Madrid, Ia

Pete Englund had been performing crew based trail work across 12 different states for 18 years…

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…

Hire

Trail Workers with Project Planning and Design Experience

Anna

Anna Baklund

Tread Lightly!, Inc.

Nonprofit

Kelso, Wa

Hi! My name is Anna and I'm the Program Manager for Washington and Oregon for Tread Lightly! I work…

Elizabeth

Elizabeth Barber

Rocky Mountain Field Institute

Nonprofit

Colorado Springs, Co

I currently work as a Program Manager for Rocky Mountain Field Institute. My role involves the…

Jim

Jim Bedwell

Contractor Trainer

Golden, Co

Thirty-eight years of experience in the US Forest Service in landscape architecture, recreation…

Christina

Christina Bentley

Agency

Rapid City, Sd

I work for the US Forest Service out of the Black Hills of South Dakota. I started my career…

Craig

Craig Benton

Higher Education
Danielle

Danielle Berry

Sierra Institute for Community and Environment

Nonprofit

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Collaborators
Federal Highway Administration USDA Forest Service National Park Service Bureau of Land Management
American Trails Professional TrailBuilders Association Partnership for the National Trails System Northern Vermont University Northwest Arkansas Community College Eppley Institute Corps Network