Springdale aldermen discuss trail adoption program

SPRINGDALE -- Residents might soon be able to volunteer for two programs to help with the city's trail system.

Aldermen forwarded a proposal for an Adopt-A-Trail Program and Springdale Trail Ambassador Program to City Council at Monday's City Council committee meeting.

Items forwarded

Springdale aldermen forwarded the following to City Council:

• An ordinance stating box trucks can’t be parked on residential properties.

• An ordinance stating trash cans, when it isn’t trash pick-up day, must not be seen from a public street or must be kept behind the front roof line.

• Establishing a procedure for appointing a person to a board or commission.

• A proposal from USI Consulting Engineers for the Huntsville Road work.

• An agreement with the Springdale Chamber of Commerce.

Source: Staff report

Both programs would be volunteer-based, according to meeting documents. The Adopt-A-Trail Program would allow groups, corporations, nonprofit organizations, neighborhood associations and community service organizations to adopt segments of the trails. The Springdale Trail Ambassador Program would allow people to promote safe and responsible use of the trails through various duties

Alderman Jim Reed, after the meeting, compared the Adopt-A-Trail Program to adopt-a-highway programs. He said the program will help people take pride in the trails. It will help people take ownership and keep the trails clean.

"It will definitely help keep things brighter," he said.

Mayor Doug Sprouse said people tend to appreciate something more when they have a stake in it. Taking care of something can give people a sense of responsibility.

For the Adopt-A-Trail Program, each group would be asked to have at least 10 people and work at least three times per year, according to meeting documents. Signs would be installed showing an organization's name near the part of the trail the group has adopted. The sign would be installed after the group meets a full year of its requirements and made a commitment to continue them.

Volunteer opportunities for the program would be split into three categories, according to the documents. One category focuses on cleanup efforts, while another focuses on environmental projects and the last focuses on trail maintenance.

The Springdale Trail Ambassador Program would allow people to promote safe and responsible use of the trails through various duties, according to the documents. These positions would have an emphasis on educating people, trail etiquette, minor trail maintenance, surveying trail users and more.

There would be three types of ambassadors under the program, according to the documents. One type would focus on maintenance, while another would focus on programs and the last would focus on outreach.

Ambassadors must be at least 18 years old and volunteer at least eight hours a month between April and October, according to the documents. They must also be friendly, approachable, patient and able to communicate with the public.

Sprouse said the two programs would be used for all of the city's trails. Having volunteers in the programs could help save the city money in labor costs.

The only cost for the programs would be for trash bags and vests to identify ambassadors, Patsy Christie, city director of planning and community development, said before the meeting. There isn't yet an estimated cost for those items, and officials don't know yet what fund the money would come from. One possibility would be for the city to ask for sponsors.

Most cities with trails have adopt-a-trail and ambassador programs, Christie said. Fayetteville and Bentonville have similar programs.

Christie said she has already heard from some groups who are interested in the Adopt-A-Trail Program.

Aldermen will vote on the proposal for the two programs at the City Council meeting April 28.

NW News on 04/21/2015

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