| East Coast Greenway photo- CT. bridge |
The East Coast Greenway (ECG) is often referred to as an ‘urban Appalachian Trail’. It is an offroad, multi-use trail that extends 2,950 miles through 25 cities along the East Coast from Calais, Maine to Key West, Florida. The trail is approximately 21% complete as off-road path. The balance of the trail is currently on roads. The ECG is open to walkers, cyclists, skaters, and other non-motorized uses. |
The East Coast Greenway is the power
behind this project, a non-profit
organization that works via a staff based
in Wakefield, RI and volunteer committees
in each state to spearhead and
coordinate this enormous trail-building
effort. The Alliance will not own or directly
manage any portion of this trail. Rather, it
will be owned and managed by municipal,
county and state agencies. The Alliance
works to ensure continuity and a
consistent quality of route.
The off-road portions of the Greenway
serve muscle-powered users of all
abilities including cyclists, walkers,
skaters, skiers, equestrians, and people
in wheelchairs. Increased public use will
be facilitated by moving more miles of this
route off-road and by the marking of the
route with ECG trail markers, the
publication of maps, cue sheets and user
guides, and the provision of common
services such as food, accommodations,
and emergency services.
behind this project, a non-profit
organization that works via a staff based
in Wakefield, RI and volunteer committees
in each state to spearhead and
coordinate this enormous trail-building
effort. The Alliance will not own or directly
manage any portion of this trail. Rather, it
will be owned and managed by municipal,
county and state agencies. The Alliance
works to ensure continuity and a
consistent quality of route.
The off-road portions of the Greenway
serve muscle-powered users of all
abilities including cyclists, walkers,
skaters, skiers, equestrians, and people
in wheelchairs. Increased public use will
be facilitated by moving more miles of this
route off-road and by the marking of the
route with ECG trail markers, the
publication of maps, cue sheets and user
guides, and the provision of common
services such as food, accommodations,
and emergency services.
The East Coast Greenway Alliance is a group that
partners with local, state and national agencies and
organization to promote the establishment,
stewardship and public enjoyment of an off-road
multi-user trail linking cities from Maine to Fla.
partners with local, state and national agencies and
organization to promote the establishment,
stewardship and public enjoyment of an off-road
multi-user trail linking cities from Maine to Fla.
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Managing the ECG
Because the East Coast Greenway is a stitching
route, the East Coast Greenway is owned and
managed by local bodies: state, county, and
municipal agencies. Each local trail retains its
Because the East Coast Greenway is a stitching
together of shorter trails to form a longer continuous
route, the East Coast Greenway is owned and
managed by local bodies: state, county, and
municipal agencies. Each local trail retains its
identity as an independent facility, with a distinct
local name as it assumes the added title of East
Coast Greenway. Signs notifying users that the trail
is part of the East Coast Greenway are posted, and
the Alliance monitors trail conditions to ensure
long-distance users of consistency in fundamental
trail quality.
Because the East Coast Greenway is a stitching
route, the East Coast Greenway is owned and
managed by local bodies: state, county, and
municipal agencies. Each local trail retains its
Because the East Coast Greenway is a stitching
together of shorter trails to form a longer continuous
route, the East Coast Greenway is owned and
managed by local bodies: state, county, and
municipal agencies. Each local trail retains its
identity as an independent facility, with a distinct
local name as it assumes the added title of East
Coast Greenway. Signs notifying users that the trail
is part of the East Coast Greenway are posted, and
the Alliance monitors trail conditions to ensure
long-distance users of consistency in fundamental
trail quality.
Building the ECG
The East Coast Greenway is a grass-roots trail development project. Because it is made up of
locally owned and managed trails, decision making flows from the bottom up. The route will not
be imposed by the Alliance but rather defined by people in each state, working through state
committees which are coordinating route selection and moving the agenda ahead within each
state. A great deal of the proposed route is already in public ownership, so costly and
complicated acquisition is not needed. Because it will grow through the stitching together of
locally owned and managed trail segments, implementation will be incremental and costs
spread out to the many state and municipal agencies responsible for building their segments.
The East Coast Greenway is a grass-roots trail development project. Because it is made up of
locally owned and managed trails, decision making flows from the bottom up. The route will not
be imposed by the Alliance but rather defined by people in each state, working through state
committees which are coordinating route selection and moving the agenda ahead within each
state. A great deal of the proposed route is already in public ownership, so costly and
complicated acquisition is not needed. Because it will grow through the stitching together of
locally owned and managed trail segments, implementation will be incremental and costs
spread out to the many state and municipal agencies responsible for building their segments.