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:

Larry

Larry Lechner

Trainer Higher Education

Bellvue, Co

Member of Center for Protected Area Management and Training at Colorado State University,…

Amy

Amy Lutsko

Morris County Park Commission, NJ

Trainer Agency
Matt

Matt Malone

Nature Trails, LLC

Contractor Trainer
Allie

Allie Maloney

Contractor Trainer Nonprofit

Whitefish, Mt

Allie Maloney is the Coordinator for the Flathead Trails Association. Her experience includes trail…

Caelan

Caelan Parker

USDA Forest Service

Trainer Agency

Mccall, Id

I am an early-career trails professional with the Forest Service. I have seven Agency field seasons…

Mike

Mike Passo

American Trails

Contractor Trainer Nonprofit

Bellingham, Wa

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

Hire

Trail Workers with Project Planning and Design Experience

Jeremiah

Jeremiah Clark

National Park Service

Agency

Kula, Hi

I have trail maintenance and construction experience through Timberline Trailcraft LLC as a Trail…

Russell

Russell Clark

National Park Service

Agency

Mammoth Cave, Ky

Landscape Architect for the National Park Service Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance Program…

Deno

Deno Contos

Contractor Trainer

Greenville, Sc

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

Dave

Dave Coyner

Quality Asphalt Services

Contractor

Indianola, Ut

I have been involved in heavy construction the last 36 years. The last 17 years we have specialized…

Amanda

Amanda Crothers

Portland Parks and Recreation

Agency

Washougal, Wa

I am an earth systems thinker using my background in geology to construct sustainable and…

Andy

Andy Crowley

Contractor Trainer

Ashland, Nh

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

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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