April 30, 2019
MEDIA RELEASE
CONTACT: Lindsey Baker / director@patapsco.org /410.696.1328
Executive Director, Patapsco Heritage Greenway
Connecting the Patapsco: A Trails Workshop
Patapsco Heritage Greenway will host a Trails Workshop on June 11, 2019 @ 10:30AM. This event is free and open to the public and will be held at the Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum. Registration is required: Register Online.
This workshop is an opportunity for partners in the Patapsco Valley Heritage Area and beyond to convene around one of the areas greatest resources: trails. The workshop will focus on the idea of trails as a source of economic development and explore ways in which local restaurants, businesses, museums, and more can create links with trails. The workshop will also explore funding sources for trails, trail building, and the role of the Patapsco Regional Greenway in connecting our area.
Workshops speakers will be Patrick Wojahn, Rails to Trails Conservancy, Doug Reigner, Alleghany Trails Alliance, Aaron Marcavitch, Anacostia Trails Heritage Area, and a representative from the Baltimore Metropolitan Council.
“At our third annual Patapsco Summit, we heard participants loud and clear: trails are essential and trail connections are at the top of the list of needs for the Patapsco Valley. We are excited to present a group of all-star speakers for participants to come together to think about ways in which we can further connect the Patapsco Valley and address the need and desire for more trails” says Lindsey Baker, Executive Director of Patapsco Heritage Greenway.
The event will start at 10:30AM with presentations from the speakers on the impact of trails, potential funding for trails, and trail building. Participants will break for lunch, provided by Little Market Cafe. Following lunch, speakers will lead a conversation about the Patapsco Regional Greenway and the Capital Trails Coalition and how those projects fit within the Patapsco Valley.
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Additional Background:
- For more information about the Patapsco Heritage Greenway visit patapsco.org
- For more information about the Rails to Trails Conservancy visit https://www.railstotrails.org/
- For more information about the Patapsco Regional Greenway visit https://www.baltometro.org/transportation/plans/patapsco-regional-greenway
- For more information about the Alleghany Trails Alliance visit https://gaptrail.org/about-us
- For more information about the Anacostia Trails Heritage Area visit http://www.anacostiatrails.org/
Speaker Bios:
Doug Riegner is the Director of Community Relations of the Allegheny Trail Alliance, the coalition of trail organizations charged with promote the Great Allegheny Passage and coordinate, strengthen, and support the efforts of allied trail partners to ensure a high-quality experience for all who enjoy the trail. During the off season Doug works to publish TrailGuide, an authorized publication of both the “150-mile GAP trail and 184.5-mile C&O Canal Towpath.” Through his work with TrailGuide Doug uncovers, develops, and maintains healthy relationships with local communities & leaders, visitor bureaus, and trail related businesses along the 335-mile corridor.
Patrick Wojahn is a long-time cyclist and advocate for the environment. He started cycling on the wooded trails of northeastern Wisconsin, discovering his love for cycling, trails and running. Patrick moved to the Washington DC area to attend Georgetown University Law Center, and has lived since 2003 in College Park, with his husband Dave. Patrick served as a city councilmember in College Park from 2007-2015 and since then has served as mayor.
Aaron Marcavitch is the Executive Director of Maryland Milestones/Anacostia Trails Heritage Area Inc., a heritage tourism organization based in Hyattsville, MD. He has degrees in public history and historic preservation and has worked in the fields of community development, heritage, and historic preservation for over fifteen years. He is the past chair of the County’s War of 1812 Commission and past chair of the Capital Trails Coalition. He lives in Greenbelt – a planned utopian community from the 1930s.
Regina Aris is the Assistant Director of Transportation Planning at the Baltimore Metropolitan Council. The Transportation Division at BMC serves as staff to the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board.
Ms. Aris received a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Loyola University and Chairs the Technical Committee of the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations, is a member of the Board of Directors of the United Way of Central Maryland, and is a judge for AASHTO’s Transportation Awards.
