Kingdom Trails Executive Director Abby Long (#60)

Trail EAffect Episode 60 Abby Long the Executive Director for Kingdom Trails

Topics Covered:

• Abby’s Backstory
  • A career in Leadville working for the Leadville Race Series
  • Economic Development through the Non-Profit / Race Series
  • Transition to the Leadville Trail 100 Legacy Foundation
• The Move back to New England
• Getting Hired as the Kingdom Trails Executive Director
• The Mission of the Kingdom Trails
• 104 Private Land Owners makes up Kingdom Trails
• Rural and Economic Development and the benefit of Trails and Recreation
  • Economic Impact of Trails
  • Trail Networks Elevate Rural Communities
  • How Trails help attract and retain a quality work force
• Grants from Kingdom Trails to other organizations within the community
• The silver linings from the loss of a core area of trails in November of 2019
• The Kingdom Trail Capacity Study / Partnering with the SE Group
• Ride with Gratitude
  • Partnering with the Northern Forest Center
  • Engaging Ride with Gratitude and the local businesses
• Implementation of the Capacity Study
  • Community Center
  • Community Parking
  • Links
• Kingdom Trails and Staff at KT
• Expansion of Trails in 2020 by Kingdom Trails Staff
• Making adjustments to allow for more adaptive riders access on more miles of trail
• The priority of Trail Maintenance at Kingdom Trails
• The role of an Executive Director for a Trail Organization
• Bike The Borderlands / Part of the Northern Forest Center
  • Trails and Mountain Biking are part of the Forest Industry
  • Federal Grants through the Northern Forest Center to help Trails and Communities
• What’s on tap for 2022 in Kingdom Trails
• Everyone Yields to Everyone at Kingdom Trails – Ride with Gratitude
• Bike Bells on Trails
• Closing Question – The Power of trails
  • Trails Are Essential
• Closing comments by Abby
  • Engaging Youth with Trails
  • Ride with Gratitude

Links:

Leadville Trail 100 Legacy Foundation: https://www.leadvilletrail100legacy.org/

Kingdom Trails: https://www.kingdomtrails.org/

Dirt Church Brewing: https://dirtchurchvt.wpcomstaging.com/

Brice Shirbach Interview with Abby Long: https://www.pinkbike.com/news/interview-abby-long-executive-director-of-the-kingdom-trail-association.html

Beta Magazine Keys to the Kingdom by Devon O’Neil: https://www.betamtb.com/culture/key-to-the-kingdom/

Kingdom Trails Capacity Study: https://segroup.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=ff307acd023440d585c3c62aec25b47c

Ride with Gratitude: https://www.bikeborderlands.com/ride-with-gratitude

Bike Borderlands: https://www.bikeborderlands.com/

Northern Forest Center: https://northernforest.org/

This Podcast has been edited and produced by Evolution Trail Services

Trail EAffect Show Support:

Smith’s Bike Shop: https://smithsbikes.com/

Evolution Trail Services: www.evotrails.com

Contact Josh at evolutiontrails@gmail.com

Support the Trail EAffect through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/traileaffect