OutdoorNebraska

Trails in West Point West Point, Nebraska, a community of about 4,000 people, has leveraged it's tremendous support system to expand opportunities for their residents through several projects. In 2015, the City of West Point, in cooperation with the West Point Trails and Pathways Committee and the West Point Community Foundation, initiated a City Trails Program to start the journey of developing a trail system in West Point. The impetus behind the trail system was to promote physical fitness and create a culture of healthy lifestyles throughout the community. Connectivity with other resources such as the school and community centers also were a component. An ad-hoc committee of just four community members was created to discuss how this trail system would become a reality. From there, public participation through phone calls, mailings, and focus groups were used to develop multiple partnerships with community organizations, business leaders, and schools to ensure this project was holistic of all user groups, which was a key component in the success of this project. There are four phases to this trail system, three of which have been completed with approximately 99% of funding through private donations. This is no small order with the costly development of trail systems. One of the ways West Point encouraged people to donate was by creating events, such as the Trails Walk, specifically targeting individuals 30 years of age and younger to participate. Participants were asked to donate $100 per year for five years to help fund the trail. This raised approximately $40,000 and has built a foundation of lifelong ownership within the trail system by many youth and young adults. Volunteers from schools have offered their services to help with litter cleanups along the trail corridor. Buy-in from the City Council within West Point was at the forefront of this initiative to ensure they were vested in the community support and drive for this recreation amenity. This success story shows that a large community isn't necessary to make outdoor recreation opportunities a reality and the importance of community buy- in is instrumental in planning efforts to ensure a sense of ownership is created. Don't forget about the invaluable role community leaders play in being champions for outdoor recreation success. Are you a community champion? Why not harness that energy toward your next outdoor recreation success story? SUCCESS STORY 77 Walking and biking trail in West Point. (Cuming County) G U I D I N G S U C C E S S

• Cover