[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Hero” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_stops=”#22577a 0%|rgba(255,255,255,0) 100%” background_color_gradient_overlays_image=”on” background_image=”https:\/\/talbotthrive.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TalbotThrive_Trails_Bicyclist_CourtesyESLC_web.jpg” custom_padding=”||0vw||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{%22#22577a%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93}” alt=”On the Trail” title_text=”TalbotThrive_Trails_Bicyclist_CourtesyESLC_web” sticky_enabled=”0″ min_height=”444.7px”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”5138c454-be54-4233-bd3b-f8e6a8747976″ custom_padding=”0px|||||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16.0″ _module_preset=”73121f80-a3ef-4484-8763-c3f18e3c56d2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”73121f80-a3ef-4484-8763-c3f18e3c56d2″ background_color=”#22577a” custom_padding=”60px|60px|60px|60px|true|true” custom_padding_tablet=”30px|30px|30px|30px|true|true” custom_padding_phone=”20px|20px|20px|20px|true|true” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” border_radii=”on|6px|6px|6px|6px” global_colors_info=”{%22#22577a%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}”][et_pb_heading title=”Connecting Communities: Talbot Thrive Drives Regional Trail Momentum” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”ddeb8c09-9078-4424-bc15-2efb6572e28e” title_font=”IBM Plex Sans Condensed|IBM Plex Sans Condensed_weight|||||||” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” title_font_size=”40px” title_line_height=”1.15em” hover_enabled=”0″ title_font_size_tablet=”40px” title_font_size_phone=”24px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text quote_border_color=”#FFFFFF” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”0504de1e-f5ff-4281-ba60-cbbe4edf98bc” text_font=”IBM Plex Sans|IBM Plex Sans_weight|||||||” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.75em” link_font=”||||on||||” link_text_color=”#FFFFFF” quote_font=”IBM Plex Sans Condensed|IBM Plex Sans Condensed_weight|||||||” quote_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_font=”IBM Plex Sans Condensed|IBM Plex Sans Condensed_weight|||||||” header_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_font_size=”72px” header_line_height=”1.15em” header_2_font=”IBM Plex Sans Condensed|IBM Plex Sans Condensed_weight|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” header_3_font=”IBM Plex Sans Condensed|IBM Plex Sans Condensed_weight|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_3_font_size=”32px” header_3_line_height=”1.3em” header_4_font=”IBM Plex Sans Condensed|IBM Plex Sans Condensed_weight|||||||” header_4_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_4_font_size=”24px” header_4_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”IBM Plex Sans Condensed|IBM Plex Sans Condensed_weight|||||||” header_5_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_5_font_size=”18px” header_5_line_height=”1.4em” header_6_font=”IBM Plex Sans Condensed|IBM Plex Sans Condensed_weight|||||||” header_6_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_6_line_height=”1.5em” custom_margin=”||||false|false” text_font_size_tablet=”15px” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”40px” header_font_size_phone=”24px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” header_2_font_size_tablet=”28px” header_2_font_size_phone=”20px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_3_font_size_phone=”17px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_font_size_tablet=”18px” header_4_font_size_phone=”15px” header_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_5_font_size_tablet=”15px” header_5_font_size_phone=”14px” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” header_6_font_size_tablet=”13px” header_6_font_size_phone=”13px” header_6_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
By Tracey Johns<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Blog” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-36fd78a7-34bc-404d-873c-dafa34efaae5%22:%91%22colorEnd%22,%22colorEnd%22%93}” custom_padding=”20px|||||”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ custom_padding=”||6px|||”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”2_5″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″ custom_padding=”||0px|||”]<\/p>\n
On Maryland\u2019s Eastern Shore, a growing coalition is working to make safe, connected mobility a reality for everyone. An integral part of that mission is the work of Talbot Thrive, a nonprofit focused on improving health, equity, and quality of life in Talbot County through better access to active transportation and community infrastructure. Its leaders see trails not as amenities, but as essential pathways to opportunity.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”3_5″][et_pb_cta _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″ header_text_color=”#00699D” body_text_color=”#00699D” background_layout=”light” background_enable_pattern_style=”on” background_pattern_style=”crosses” background_pattern_color=”rgba(0,105,157,0.18)” background_pattern_blend_mode=”screen” custom_padding=”||11px|||”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_cta][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
\u201cOur participation in the Maryland Eastern Shore Trail Network helps us learn from other communities, understand what has worked elsewhere, and avoid the mistakes that have left the Eastern Shore behind. Trails are part of how we fulfill our mission to support physical activity, improve mobility for people of all abilities, and strengthen community well-being.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grant said that Talbot Thrive sees firsthand the everyday needs that safe trails can meet. Parents want their children to bike without fear. Older adults seek independence after they stop driving. Veterans in recovery need quiet, predictable places to walk. Young people with sensory challenges benefit from calm routes close to nature.<\/p>\n
Those needs shape the shared vision between Talbot Thrive and the Maryland Eastern Shore Trail Network (MESTN)<\/a>, a regional partnership of counties, towns, nonprofits, and agencies working from the same playbook to connect the Shore\u2019s scattered paths.<\/p>\n MESTN<\/a> has emerged because of a long-standing imbalance: the Eastern Shore comprises roughly 30 percent of Maryland\u2019s land area, yet has barely 9 percent of its separated bike and pedestrian trails. Demand for outdoor access has grown sharply in recent years, especially since the pandemic.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”3_5″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_stops=”#2b87da 0%|#ffffff 100%” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/talbotthrive.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TalbotThrive_RailstoTrails_CourtesyTownofEastonWeb.jpg” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” alt=”Easton Village Trail” title_text=”TalbotThrive_RailstoTrails_CourtesyTownofEastonWeb” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n A paved stretch of Easton\u2019s new Village trail provides a safe route for residents traveling between neighborhoods, jobs, and services without relying on a car. (photo courtesy of Town of Easton)<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”2_5″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ width=”100%”]<\/p>\n Talbot Thrive\u2019s commitment aligns squarely with MESTN\u2019s goals. The network\u2019s strategic plan calls for trails that support physical activity, provide safe transportation alternatives, expand wildlife corridors, preserve agricultural landscapes, and build new economic opportunities.<\/p>\n It also recognizes that many Shore communities lack the staff capacity or technical expertise to pursue complex trail projects on their own, a gap the coalition aims to close.<\/p>\n \u201cWithout a plan, you are just chasing grants,\u201d Grant said. \u201cWith a plan, you can say, \u2018Here is where crashes happen, here is where we lack shoulders or sidewalks, here is how we prioritize projects that make it safer for everyone.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Talbot Thrive views planning as the foundation for long-term health and safety. By working alongside MESTN, the organization helps bring regional best practices home to Talbot County and strengthens partnerships with farmers, adjacent landowners, and residents with disabilities.<\/p>\n That outreach is significant where former rail corridors and rural rights-of-way intersect with active farmland or private property.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_stops=”rgba(255,255,255,0) 0%|rgba(255,255,255,0) 100%”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”1_2″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n In the Town of Easton, the work of connecting neighborhoods has taken shape in real time. Town Engineer Rick Van Emburgh said the past decade has shown how a local trail network can strengthen safety, mobility, and community life when projects are designed with residents in mind.<\/p>\n \u201cWe realized our public works crews were talented enough to build the trails in-house, and that saved the town a significant amount of money,\u201d Van Emburgh said. \u201cIt also allowed us to use our workforce as part of our grant match instead of relying solely on taxpayer dollars.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n As Easton expanded its Rails-to-Trails system, concerns from adjacent property owners shaped the design. Van Emburgh said some residents believed the former rail bed was part of their yard, and that required patient, on-site conversations.<\/p>\n \u201cWe met with the neighbors, walked the alignment, and agreed on ways to protect their privacy,\u201d he said. \u201cThat meant landscaping, visual buffers, and in some cases a privacy fence or a retaining wall where the old grades made the trail higher than their windows.\u201d<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”1_2″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_stops=”#00699d 0%|#ffffff 100%” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/talbotthrive.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TalbotThrive_Trails_Easton_Construction_CourtesyTownofEastonWeb.jpg” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” alt=”Easton Construction” title_text=”TalbotThrive_Trails_Easton_Construction_CourtesyTownofEastonWeb” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Town of Easton public works crews construct a segment of the local trail system, an in-house approach that has reduced costs and allowed the town to leverage labor as part of its grant match. (courtesy of the Town of Easton)<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ min_height=”54.2px”]<\/p>\n Those early worries were eased after the project opened. \u201cPeople have said it is much better than they expected. The safety concerns they feared just have not materialized,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”1_2″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_stops=”#2b87da 0%|#ffffff 99%” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/talbotthrive.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TalbotThrive_Trails_EastonRailTrail_treesCourtesyESLCWeb.jpg” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” alt=”Easton Rail Trail” title_text=”TalbotThrive_Trails_EastonRailTrail_treesCourtesyESLCWeb” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ custom_padding=”||||false|false” height=”612px”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The Easton Rail Trail runs through a tree-lined corridor, illustrating how trails can offer calm, accessible routes that support physical activity, mental health, and everyday mobility. (courtesy of ESLC)<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”1_2″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Van Emburgh said the town now sees how broad the need is. \u201cThere are people using the trail to get to work, people carrying laundry to the laundromat, and kids going to see their friends. It gives them a safe way to get from point A to point B,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Looking ahead, Easton is focused on bridging its greatest divide. <\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cRoute 50 splits our town down the middle. We need safe connections between the east and west sides,\u201d he said.<\/strong><\/p>\n Safe crossings are under review by SHA at Dutchman\u2019s Lane, Dover Road, and Goldsborough Street and the Town has an ambitious plan for 20 miles of trails within Town limits including a possible pedestrian bridge over Route 50 near the Talbot Humane Society.<\/p>\n \u201cA bridge would be expensive, but it would be a safe way to get people across,\u201d Van Emburgh said.<\/p>\n He said the town\u2019s goal is simple. \u201cWe want to connect all of our neighborhoods and parks. Trails are extremely valuable to this community, and we hope to continue funding and building them.\u201d<\/p>\n Building paved, ADA-compliant trails can cost about $1 million per mile, said Owen Bailey of the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, who also serves as MESTN\u2019s vice chair.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you look at the many miles of potential trail connections, things get very expensive very quickly,\u201d he said. \u201cBut good news is we have options and opportunities that we should be exploring.\u201d<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Because of those costs, planners support a \u201cright-sized\u201d mix of trail types. Paved trails are critical in towns where people live, work, and attend school. In rural areas, natural-surface trails made of mulch or crushed stone can provide meaningful access at a fraction of the price.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first version of a trail could be mulch or crushed stone,\u201d Bailey said. \u201cSomething that costs tens of thousands of dollars a mile instead of millions of dollars.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Even so, trail projects remain relatively low-cost compared to building new roads and tend to deliver outsized benefits for communities, including improved safety, connectivity, and quality of life.<\/p>\n Incremental pathways, said MESTN chair Sue Simmons, help communities adjust and see the benefit. \u201cWhen people see a well-maintained path used by neighbors, kids in ball uniforms, seniors with walking sticks, they start to see it as theirs,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”3_5″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Public health experts consistently link everyday walking and biking access to lower obesity and diabetes rates and to reduced anxiety and depression. Trails also support \u201ccommunity mobility,\u201d a concept Simmons and others describe as a justice issue for people who use wheelchairs, older adults, and teenagers without access to a car.<\/p>\n Examples across the Shore show what is possible. Somerset County\u2019s Terrapin Run Trail, a 4.5-mile corridor between Crisfield and Marion, has become a daily exercise route, a gathering space, and a safe link for people in county programs.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is not just a pretty place to walk,\u201d said county Recreation and Parks Director Clint Sterling. \u201cWe are seeing people incorporate it into their rehabilitation, their mental health routines, even their transportation.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n Trail planning on the Eastern Shore must also take farmers\u2019 concerns into account. Some landowners believed that former rail corridors would revert to them when trains stopped running, but many have remained state or railroad property.<\/p>\n \u201cThat disconnect between what people believed and what the deeds actually say is at the heart of a lot of anger, and understandably so,\u201d Bailey said.<\/p>\n Advocates emphasize early communication, investments in buffers and fencing, paving driveways and access points, and designs that respect farm operations.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”2_5″ background_color=”#00699D” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_stops=”#2b87da 0%|#ffffff 100%” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/talbotthrive.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TalbotThrive_Trails_SomersetCounty_CourtesyESLCWeb.jpg” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” alt=”Somerset County” title_text=”TalbotThrive_Trails_SomersetCounty_CourtesyESLCWeb” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Somerset County\u2019s Terrapin Run Trail stretches between Crisfield and Marion, serving as a daily exercise route, a transportation link, and a community gathering space. (courtesy of ESLC)<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Talbot Thrive and ESLC intend to meet with farmers and landowners early in the process, before there is a plan or an agenda item at a planning commission or county council meeting. Practitioners with a track record of successful rural trail projects recommend meeting stakeholders where they are, providing clear guidance on right-of-way, and demonstrating how thoughtful trail design can enhance safety alongside agricultural operations.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” column_structure=”1_2,1_2″][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”1_2″][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/talbotthrive.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Mass_Central_Rail_Trail_bridge_over_the_Ware_River_Barre_MAweb.jpg” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” alt=”Mass Central Rail Trail” title_text=”Mass_Central_Rail_Trail_bridge_over_the_Ware_River,_Barre_MAweb” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n A bridge over the Ware River in Barre, MA on the Mass Central Rail Trail.<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”1_2″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Well-connected trails can support small businesses, agritourism, and local economies. Across the country, homes and businesses near trails see higher values, and towns that embrace trail networks often develop retail farm and u-pick berry operations, caf\u00e9s, outfitters, and lodging that serve new visitors. The Great Allegheny Passage and the Washington Old Dominion Trail offer powerful models of how that works.<\/p>\n On the Shore, that potential is already emerging. In Somerset County, visiting cyclists talk about making \u201ca weekend of it\u201d once Terrapin Run connects with more routes. \u201cThat is real money for small towns that have lost other industries,\u201d Sterling said.<\/p>\n Policy leaders agree that the question is not whether trails matter. The challenge is how to convert scattered projects into a connected network that serves residents of all ages and abilities. MESTN\u2019s plan calls for funded master plans, prioritized connections to schools, parks, health care, and jobs, and a combination of paved and natural-surface trails to meet different needs.<\/p>\n Simmons said the next decade will define whether the Shore continues to fall behind or becomes a model for rural mobility.<\/p>\n \u201cTrails are not about turning the Eastern Shore into somewhere else,\u201d she said. \u201cThey are about helping the people who already live here move safely, live healthier lives, and stay connected to the land and each other. If we can agree on that, the rest is just planning and persistence.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” column_structure=”1_2,1_2″][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”1_2″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n While organizations such as Talbot Thrive and the Maryland Eastern Shore Trail Network advance projects locally, state agencies are working to create the conditions that allow those investments to function as a connected system.<\/p>\n Maryland Department of Natural Resources Director of Outdoor Recreation Sandra Olek says trail development increasingly depends on coordination across state, county, and municipal boundaries.<\/p>\n She says DNR manages more than 500,000 acres statewide and oversees roughly 1,100 miles of trails, placing the agency at the intersection of land management, transportation planning, and community access.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen people talk about trails, they often mean very different things,\u201d Olek said. \u201cFrom the state perspective, we may be focused on natural-surface trails on public lands, while counties are planning shared-use transportation trails. The challenge is making sure those systems align, because the users do not see them as separate.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”1_2″][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/talbotthrive.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TalbotThrive_Trails_Tuckahoe-Lake-Trail_CourtesyESLCWeb.jpg” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” alt=”Tuckahoe Bridge” title_text=”TalbotThrive_Trails_Tuckahoe-Lake-Trail_CourtesyESLCWeb” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n A boardwalk segment of the Tuckahoe Lake Trail crosses wetlands, highlighting how trail design can balance recreation, environmental protection, and access to nature. (Photo courtesy of the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy.)<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n \u201cIt takes a lot of interagency coordination and a lot of jurisdictions rowing in the same direction,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Recent statewide transportation trail<\/a> planning efforts are helping address that challenge by mapping existing and proposed trails, identifying gaps, and clarifying where strategic connections can link communities to parks, employment centers, health care, and other essentials.<\/p>\n From a policy standpoint, Olek emphasized that trails should be evaluated as infrastructure with multiple public benefits.<\/p>\n \u201cThese trails function as linear parks,\u201d she said. \u201cThey support public health, social connection, and safe mobility, especially for people who do not drive or can no longer drive.\u201d<\/p>\n Short, accessible trail segments, she noted, can deliver meaningful returns without the cost of fully paved facilities, particularly in rural areas.<\/p>\n Maryland is also exploring the designation of \u201cdestination trails,\u201d cross-jurisdictional routes that highlight scenic, historical, and cultural assets while supporting tourism and local economies. For the Eastern Shore, Olek said the policy takeaway is straightforward.<\/p>\n \u201cThe benefit is there to be had,\u201d she said. \u201cBut it only works when planning, funding, and implementation are coordinated over time.\u201d<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.23.1″ _module_preset=”5138c454-be54-4233-bd3b-f8e6a8747976″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”73121f80-a3ef-4484-8763-c3f18e3c56d2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][wpforms_selector _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” form_id=”33″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/wpforms_selector][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Tracey JohnsOn Maryland\u2019s Eastern Shore, a growing coalition is working to make safe, connected mobility a reality for everyone. An integral part of that mission is the work of Talbot Thrive, a nonprofit focused on improving health, equity, and quality of life in Talbot County through better access to active transportation and community infrastructure.… Seguir leyendo Connecting Communities: Talbot Thrive Drives Regional Trail Momentum<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"1080"},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/talbotthrive.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6785"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/talbotthrive.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/talbotthrive.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/talbotthrive.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/talbotthrive.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6785"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/talbotthrive.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6785\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6824,"href":"https:\/\/talbotthrive.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6785\/revisions\/6824"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/talbotthrive.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6785"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/talbotthrive.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6785"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/talbotthrive.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6785"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}A Regional Effort Driven by Local Realities<\/h2>\n
Easton\u2019s On-the-Ground Perspective<\/h2>\n
Costs, Creativity, and the Path Forward<\/h2>\n
Mobility, Health, and Human Dignity<\/h2>\n
Respecting Agriculture and Rural Character<\/h2>\n
Economic Potential Across the Region<\/h2>\n
A Larger Vision for the Shore<\/h2>\n
A Statewide Framework Taking Shape<\/h2>\n
Interested in being part of the work being done to connect communities and make safer places to walk, run, ride and roll? Use the form below or email us at web@talbotthrive.org<\/a>.<\/h5>\n