Trust for Public Land announces the 2022 Georgia Outdoor Recreation and Trail Summit on May 15 and 16, 2022, at the Augusta Convention Center in Augusta, Ga. With an emphasis on experiential learning, the 2022 Summit will bring together nonprofit leaders, city planners, elected officials, greenspace advocates, recreation enthusiasts and others to envision an accelerated and ambitious approach to improving Georgia’s trails.

Keynote speakers include: 

● Georgia State Senators Sheikh Rahman and Bo Hatchett, leading advocates for outdoor recreation and chief proponents for creating a Georgia Office of the Outdoofs; and

● Andres Villegas, President of the Georgia Forestry Association, and Jennifer Clinton, Sr. Parks and Conservation Economist at TPL, will headline a panel on outdoor recreation and economic development.

“Investing in outdoor recreation and trails is a key way for state and local governments to drive economic development, create healthier communities and provide equitable access to the outdoors,” said George Dusenbury, Georgia State Director for Trust for Public Land. “The Outdoor Recreation and Trail Summit aims to increase the capacity of local governments and advocates to create trail and outdoor recreation opportunities while advocating for greater statewide investment in these areas.”

Summit participants will have a unique opportunity to learn from the experts while becoming a part of the larger discussion about how outdoor spaces can define communities across the state. The Summit will offer:

● Mobile workshops, including bike rides and kayak paddle tours, to showcase Augusta and neighboring communities that have imagined, planned, designed and constructed some of the strongest trail networks in Georgia;

● Speakers and sessions to inform and inspire attendees; and

● Networking to spark collaboration and continue dialogue. 

The Summit is organized by a team of volunteers dedicated to making Georgia an outdoor recreation Mecca, supporting healthy, economically vibrant communities by providing plentiful access to nature 

and recreation. Organizations involved include Georgia Outdoor Recreation Coalition, Atlanta Regional Commission, East Coast Greenway, Georgia Bikes, Georgia Municipal Association, Georgia River Network, Georgia Trails Alliance, REI, SORBA, Trust for Public Land, and others.