This year's Annual Pierce County Trails Conference, hosted by ForeverGreen Trails (FGT) on September 25th, proved to be both an inspiring celebration of our region's active transportation achievements and an eye-opening educational experience for me. As a first-time attendee, I left energized about the future of trails in Pierce County — and convinced of the critical role we all play in supporting this vision.
A Day of Vision and Leadership
The conference opened with compelling remarks from Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello, who articulated the value that trails bring to our communities. His commitment to these projects signals a promising prioritization of non-motorized transportation options.
Travis Curry, Pierce County Trails Planner, followed with an excellent presentation on the regional trail plan. I appreciated the overview of a comprehensive vision for connecting our communities through a network of safe, accessible trails. The presentation demonstrated that we're not just building individual trail segments — we're creating an interconnected system that will serve generations to come.
Confronting Real Challenges
Perhaps the most valuable presentation, in my opinion, was the panel discussion, "Implementing Our Regional Trail Vision," moderated by FGT’s Executive Director Larry Leveen. This conversation didn't shy away from the very real obstacles we face in expanding active transportation resources. From funding constraints to navigating complex jurisdictional boundaries, the panelists provided honest insights into what it takes to move from vision to reality in our car-centric culture.
Larry Leveen's subsequent presentation on legislative
efforts and trail project updates revealed the experienced advocacy work
happening behind the scenes. His informed perspective on policy and funding
mechanisms underscored an important truth: creating change in our
transportation system requires dedicated, full-time expertise and persistent
advocacy. Larry is also participating in the bike advocacy group that I am
coordinating and is providing me with helpful introductions and orientation to
the local policy landscape.
Recognizing Champions
A highlight for me as a TWBC member was the awards ceremony, where individuals whose work has been essential to advancing trail development were honored. Among the recipients was our own TWBC President Bob Myrick, who received a lifetime recognition award — a well-deserved acknowledgment of his tireless dedication to making Pierce County more bike-friendly. Other award winners were John Hopkins for his committed work to complete the Puyallup Riverwalk Trail, PenMet Parks for the southern completion of the Cushman Trail, and the partnership that developed the Doc Tait Pavilion and Foothills trailhead in Buckley (City of Buckley, Foothills Rails-to-Trails Coalition, and Pierce County).
Why Your Support Matters Now More Than Ever
Walking away from my first trails conference (definitely not my last!), one thing became crystal clear: the work being done by ForeverGreen Trails is absolutely essential to our shared vision of a more bike and pedestrian-friendly Pierce County.
In today's legislative environment, we need an organization with leadership that works full-time to understand the complexities of transportation policy and advocate for better solutions. ForeverGreen Trails brings exactly this expertise to the table and their efforts require our financial support.
This is why the Tacoma Washington Bicycle Club dedicates a portion of our funds to supporting ForeverGreen Trails, and why we're encouraging all our members to consider supporting ForeverGreen if possible.
Turn Your Love of Trails into Action
You can make a tangible difference in several ways:
Become a member of ForeverGreen Trails. Membership provides sustainable support for their advocacy work and connects you with a community of trail champions working toward shared goals.
Make a donation to ForeverGreen Trails. Every contribution, regardless of size, helps sustain their advocacy work and demonstrates community support for active transportation projects. You can even gift other assets like shares of stock or arrange “planned giving” by including them in your will for a lasting legacy — contact FGT at info@forevergreentrails.org.
Attend ForeverGreen events and conferences — Trails & Ales, Pierce County Trail Days, and the Pierce County Trails Conference. Your presence amplifies the voice of the active transportation community and helps you stay informed about developments affecting our trails.
Learn about their mission, vision, and strategic plan. Understanding their comprehensive planned trail network and focused projects help us all become better advocates.
Perhaps most importantly, spread the word about ForeverGreen Trails. Share information about FGT's work with fellow cyclists, walkers, and anyone who values safe, accessible outdoor recreation and sustainable transportation options. FGT is on Facebook, Bluesky, Instagram, and has a free newsletter you can sign up for. Help them by reposting or sharing their content or forwarding their newsletters to others.
Looking Forward
The vision of communities connected by trails won't become reality without our collective action. In a nation still largely designed around automobiles, creating change requires persistence, expertise, and yes, financial resources. ForeverGreen Trails provides the professional advocacy and planning expertise; and they need our support to continue this crucial work.
Whether you're a daily bike commuter, a weekend trail enthusiast, or simply someone who believes in creating more livable communities, consider becoming a member of ForeverGreen Trails or donating today. Together, our combined actions will create the trail network that future generations will thank us for building.