The United States has thousands of miles of abandoned railway tracks that trains no longer use.
Rails to Trails, a non-profit organization, works with local and state governments to develop extensive park systems coast to coast along former railway lines converted into trails.
So far, they have created 56,327 kilometers of new trails and have plans for an additional 12,875 kilometers.
One project alone, the Great American Rail-Trail, offers over 3,219 kilometers of parkway for cycling, running, and walking across 12 states and the District of Columbia.
The group aims to build an additional 2,737 kilometers of trails—bringing the total to 5,956 kilometers—to complete a trail that connects 12 states and spans the nation.
The trail, says Kevin Belanger from Rails-to-Trails, “will serve 50 million people living within 50 miles of the trail and millions of global and American visitors who wish to explore the diverse landscape and communities of the country.”
Source: ShareAmerica, By Noelani Kirschner