Call for Proposals

The Southeast Greenways & Trails Summit sessions will address questions such as:

• What role can greenways & trails play in climate resilience and adaptation efforts? How can they be part of the solution to helping lower emissions?

• How can advocates, planners, policy makers, elected officials and other leaders help ensure our active transportation networks are developed in a way that is equitable, accessible, safe and affordable?

• Developing active transportation networks requires partnerships, patience and deep engagement. What opportunities and challenges does the Southeast region face and how can they be overcome or leveraged?

• How will our transportation and recreation investment decisions today help revitalize small towns and rural areas to create stronger local economies, cleaner environments, healthier populations, better mobility and greater access to opportunity and jobs in the future?

• With a shifting and uncertain future for federal transportation funding, how can Southeastern states successfully fund active transportation investments and demonstrate the value of those investments?

• How can we build the movement for greenways, trails and active transportation to better engage all generations and demographics, leading to bigger impact and more creativity in our work? What opportunites should be explored when developing trails for an aging population? 

• Trail planning and design.  Rooted in the voices of community members and their lived experience; designing for safety from vehicular, criminal, and discriminatory violence (particularly with regard to vision zero enforcement policy). 

• Funding strategies. Have you succeeded in securing an innovative funding source for a trail project? How can public and private sector groups prioritize areas most in need through their funding criteria and mechanisms?

• Advocacy & partnerships. Offer examples of unique and/or particularly strong alliances. 

• Transportation equity.  What are physical barriers (land use, design, transport network) and other barriers for historically underserved communities: institutional, social, economic (housing, jobs, cost of living), and environmental (environmental justice, air/water/soil quality)?

• Economic development. How can projects generate  financial benefits for the surrounding community? How can job creation, affordable housing creation next to trails, and local businesses benefit from trails without displacement? 

• Environmental stewardship. Offer examples of projects that benefit the environment. How can stewardship act as a vehicle for social cohesion, advocacy, and engagement with communities in a positive and lasting way?

• Art & culture.  How can trails enrich and serve as a platform for the arts, cultural diversity, and local heritage?

• Youth and community engagement. How can we involve more youth in trail use and development? How can  trails create jobs for youth, develop leadership, grow young advocates, and empower youth, particularly youth in underserved areas?

1. Mobile Workshops (2 to 3 hours). Highlight local projects by offering a tour of a community-based project or initiative that addresses a Summit theme. Projects could range from permanent infrastructure improvements to temporary interventions, from established organizations and/or start-ups. Examples include public spaces and places, public art, and greenways. Mobile workshops will have an assigned group leader who will take up to 25 participants on walking, biking, or public transit tour. 

2. Roundtables & Charrettes (1 hour). These sessions are smaller group settings open to any Summit participant. These deep-dive roundtables or charrettes that feature up to four speakers/discussion leaders. These sessions will include both a presentation and time for questions and answers. Roundtables may include slide presentations or printed materials but should be intentionally designed to be participatory and interactive. 

3. Breakouts (20 minutes). These sessions are smaller group settings open to any Summit participant. We will have numerous breakout sessions, each featuring up to two speakers/discussion leaders. These sessions are also intended to be participatory and interactive and include both a presentation and Q&A time. These sessions may include slide presentation or printed materials. 

4. Lightning Rounds (7 minutes max). Lightning rounds are designed to provide a fast introduction and explanation of innovative ideas and strategies. We will host 6 of these shorter sessions, which include  slide presentations and limited Q&A time. 

5. Poster Session (held during Thursday evening reception). We recommend poster designs with strong, high-resolution images and graphics, as well as a headline font size of at least 60 points for easy visibility. Please submit your poster via email as a high-quality, print-ready PDF, sized at 36 inches wide, 42 inches tall.

Questions? Email sesummit@greenway.org 

Note: The Summit will also feature a keynote and plenary panel. These presentations, presented as general sessions for all Summit attendees, will be selected by invitation.