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:

Scott

Scott Johnson

USDA Forest Service

Trainer Agency

Forest Grove, Or

Trail builder with the Forest Service for over 15 years. Have worked on a mobile trail crew for all…

Leanna

Leanna Joyner

Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Trainer Nonprofit

Asheville, Nc

Leanna currently leads the development of systems, services, and protocols to support Appalachian…

Mariah

Mariah Keagy

Sinuosity

Contractor Trainer

Morristown, Vt

Mariah Keagy began her career in trail construction and reconstruction in the Green Mountains…

Don

Don Kelly

USDA Forest Service

Trainer Agency

Marion, Va

I have over 32 years of experience performing conservation, trails, and construction related…

Larry

Larry Knutson

Penn Trails LLC

Contractor Trainer

Newville, Pa

Larry Knutson, is founder and President of Penn Trails LLC. A cloud based company for 16 years, we…

Steve

Steve Kruger

Trainer Nonprofit

Portland, Or

Steve has worked in parks and natural areas for nearly 20 years, around San Francisco, Milwaukee,…

Hire

Trail Workers with Project Planning and Design Experience

Nathaniel

Nathaniel Brodie

USDA Forest Service

Agency

Hood River, Or

Twenty-four ongoing years of professional experience working and managing iconic and high-use trail…

Robert

Robert Burgess

Contractor

Spanish Fort, Al

Experienced Contractor and retired military. Heavily involved in trail building through local IMBA…

Betsy

Betsy Byrne

National Park Service

Agency

Salt Lake City, Ut

I am a landscape architect with the National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation…

Lex

Lex Carey

Pulaski Users Group (PUG)

Nonprofit

Hailey, Id

With conservation corps, and USFS trail Crew experience under my belt I have shifted to the…

Jake

Jake Carsten

Contractor

Del Rio, Tx

Jake Carsten began his career in the bicycle industry in 2011, working on the IMBA-Subaru Trail…

Aaron

Aaron Cholewa

Contractor

Severance, Co

Aaron Cholewa is an accomplished and dedicated trail builder with a profound passion for the…

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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