This collaborative presentation features the Cross Vermont Trail, Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail and Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. It explores how cross-state partnerships transform a patchwork of rail trails, recreation paths, and on-road segments into a connected long-distance recreation network. The session highlights collaboration across organizations, user groups, and state agencies, including motorized and non-motorized stakeholders, and shares lessons in building shared vision, overcoming challenges, and advancing rural economic development through outdoor recreation.
Learning Objectives:
Describe how cross-state trail partnerships connect fragmented recreation infrastructure into regional networks.
Identify key stakeholders involved in developing multi-use rail trail and recreation corridors.
Summarize strategies used to overcome challenges in building long-distance trail connectivity.
Presenters:
Marianne Borowski, NH Co-Chair of the Twin State Rail Trail Project, President and Founder of the Cross NH Adventure Trail
Marianne Borowski is a retired biochemist, lifelong cyclist, and trail advocate based in New Hampshire. Inspired by the Cross Vermont Trail, she founded the Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail in 2017, creating a long-distance route that links rail trails, recreation paths, and backroads. Marianne serves as New Hampshire Co-Chair of the Twin State Rail Trail project and is Vice President of the New Hampshire Rail Trails Coalition. Her work focuses on building partnerships across organizations, user groups, and state lines to improve trail connectivity and support rural economic development through outdoor recreation. She has biked rail trails in 49 states.
Greg Wester, Executive Director, Cross Vermont Trail
Greg Western began as CVTA Director in 2013, after working as a project coordinator on the trail since 2006. He is excited to help make the complete state wide trail a reality. Give a call if you want to talk about the future of the Cross Vermont Trail! Greg has over 30 years of experience in the field and has previously held jobs with the Green Mountain Club, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, Student Conservation Association, National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Managament, and what not. His personal best bowling score is 149.