Agenda
Purchase tickets for both the Trails and Bike Summit for a discounted rate of $150.
Trails Summit | Thursday, October 9 | $91.20
8-8:45 a.m. Registration and exhibitors
8:45-9 a.m. Welcome
9-9:45 a.m. Keynote presentation: Charting the Course—Iowa’s Next Trails Chapter, JED Olson
Take a journey through the history of trail development in Iowa, exploring key milestones, successes, and lessons learned. This opening session sets a networking tone for the conference and invites attendees to reflect on the past while sharing their ideas, experiences, and visions for the future of Iowa’s trails. Through discussion and interactive dialogue, participants will help shape a collective perspective on where trails are headed, including strategies to address development and maintenance challenges, opportunities for economic development partnerships, and a statewide vision for Iowa’s identity as the Trails Capitol.
9:45-10 a.m. Break
10-11 a.m. Expert Panel: Paving the Way—Fundraising Strategies for Multiuse Trails
Trail projects don’t move forward without strong community and financial support. In this panel, development directors from leading nonprofits will share proven strategies for raising funds to make multiuse trail visions a reality. From cultivating donor relationships and building corporate partnerships to leveraging grants and community campaigns, panelists will highlight creative approaches that have worked in Iowa and beyond. Attendees will walk away with practical tools and fresh ideas to strengthen fundraising efforts for their own trail initiatives.
10-10:30 a.m. Lightning Round: The Power of Amenities—Creating Welcoming Trail Experiences
Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest difference. What turns a simple path in the woods into a trail worth visiting? Benches, picnic tables, and trash receptacles, of course! This session will highlight a little-known company right here in Iowa that manufactures outdoor furniture out of 100% recycled plastic. Attendees will learn the benefits of having recycled plastic amenities with the bonus of buying directly from the manufacturer.
10:35-11:05 a.m. Lightning Round: Building Buzz—Marketing that Moves People
Building strong community connections is at the heart of every successful trail. This session highlights creative ways to engage citizens and businesses in celebrating and supporting trails. From annual events to unique partnerships and custom swag—these efforts show how trails can become a source of pride and identity. Attendees will also learn how leveraging other local assets can shine a spotlight on your trails and elevate community visibility. Come ready to gather fresh ideas and inspiration for strengthening your own trail’s presence and impact.
11-11:15 a.m. Break
11:15 a.m.-12 p.m. Short Expert Panel: Hands on the Trail: Engaging Volunteers for Lasting Impact
Volunteers are the heartbeat of many trail projects, bringing energy, pride, and a deep sense of ownership to the spaces they help care for. In this panel, volunteer coordinators from nonprofits across Iowa will share how they recruit, train, and sustain dedicated volunteer teams to keep multiuse trails safe, beautiful, and welcoming. From organizing cleanup days and trailhead projects to building lasting relationships that keep volunteers coming back, panelists will offer practical strategies and inspiring stories of communities coming together to care for their trails. Attendees will leave with new ideas for harnessing the power of volunteers to maintain and grow their own trail networks.
11:15 a.m.-12 p.m. Short Expert Panel: The Power of Partnership—Building Effective Trail Committees
Behind every successful trail project is a team of committed people working together to make it happen. This panel will feature leaders who have organized trail committees that bring the right voices to the table—local officials, business partners, nonprofit leaders, landowners, and passionate community members. Panelists will share how to recruit key stakeholders, define roles, and keep committees motivated and effective. From advocacy and fundraising to guiding long-term planning, attendees will learn how a strong committee can turn a trail vision into reality while building broad community support along the way.
12-1 p.m. Networking Lunch
1-2 p.m. Expert Panel: Connecting the Pieces—Working with Landowners to Build a Corridor
Creating seamless trail connections is never easy—but it’s always worth it. At the heart of every successful project is the ability to work with landowners and build trust. This panel will share inspiring success stories and proven strategies for property acquisition, while also answering your questions and helping you understand legal requirements and creative approaches to landowner outreach. Attendees will leave with fresh ideas, practical tools, and the confidence to take the next steps in turning trail gaps into lasting community connections.
1-1:30 p.m. Lightning Round: Back by Popular Demand: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Extended Version
Clear, attractive signage can make the difference between a good trail and a great one. This session will showcase inspiring regional examples of signage and wayfinding done right, highlighting creative approaches that enhance user experience, strengthen branding, and build community identity. Through visuals and discussion, you’ll discover best practices and practical ideas you can bring back to your own trails.
1:35-2:05 p.m. Lightning Round: Nathan’s Mile Glow Trail
Learn the backstory and the impact behind the nation's longest glow in the dark trail, The Nathan's Miles Glow Trail, a unique 2-mile pathway illuminated by glow stone technology. The specially treated stones absorb sunlight during the day and emit a gentle glow after dark, creating a magical nighttime experience without traditional lighting.Perfect for evening walks, jogs, or family outings, the trail provides safe, eco-friendly illumination while offering visitors a truly one-of-a-kind recreational experience.
2:15-2:30 p.m. Break
2:30-3:30 p.m. Expert Panel: From River to Recreation: Water Trail Development at Cedar Falls Gateway River Park
Water trails open up new ways for communities to connect with nature, recreation, and tourism. This session will dive into the process of planning, funding, and promoting water trails, using a local project as a case study. Attendees will gain practical insights and inspiration for developing safe, accessible, and sustainable water trail experiences in their own communities.
3:05-3:35 p.m. Workshop: Trails that Transform: Designing for Community Impact
Across Iowa and beyond, trails are catalysts for transformative change in communities. This interactive workshop introduces a typology of public and private investments that emerge along trails, illustrating how thoughtful design can amplify trail use and community impact. Using examples from Iowa and other regions, we’ll explore strategies for implementing trail-oriented development that supports connectivity, economic vitality, and placemaking in both urban and rural contexts. Participants are encouraged to bring their own local examples and questions to spark discussion and exchange ideas that can be applied back home.
3:30-3:45 p.m. Break
3:45-4:30 p.m. Closing Keynote: We Don't Need Trails: the Social Capital of Outdoor Recreation
What do we truly need to thrive—both as individuals and as communities? Trails and outdoor recreation are among the most powerful pathways to positive impact. This inspiring keynote will explore how trails improve lifestyles, drive economic growth, and strengthen a community’s sense of place, offering one of the highest returns on investment for your life and your town. Attendees will discover how trails help build happy, healthy, and resilient communities through sustainable and equitable outdoor recreation opportunities. Leave this session energized and reminded that the work you do on trails truly makes a difference.
Evening Bike Ride and REception | Thursday, October 9 | $17.84
Join us on Thursday evening after the Trails Summit for a casual bike ride along scenic Cedar Falls Trails! There will be a reception at the midpoint of the ride at SingleSpeed Brewery in Waterloo. Appetizers and one free drink will be provided for registered riders.
Linked here is the bike route.
Reminder: please plan to bring bike lights for the ride.
Bike Summit | Friday, October 10 | $91.20
8:00-8:30 a.m. Registration and Check in
8:30-9:00 a.m. Welcome
9:00-9:45 a.m. The Great American Rail Trail and How Iowa is Raising the Bar, Ken Bryan, Rails to Trails Conservancy
Take a look at the cross-country route and then a deep dive into the alignment across Iowa. Learn about progress over the year and how current federal legislation being debated now along with local bond initiatives will shape how communities can complete regional trail networks in the state.
9:00-9:45 a.m. Engaging with Blind Pedestrians: Design Lessons Learned from Proactive Engagement, Cody Christianson and Connor Cox, Bolton & Menk
Lessons learned from a MnDOT and Bolton & Menk led workshop with blind and low vision individuals related to the design and use of sidewalks, shared-use paths, and separated bicycle facilities.
In October of 2024, MnDOT partnered with Bolton & Menk hosted a workshop with blind and low vision pedestrians. Participants in this workshop visited various pedestrian and bicycle facilities in the Twin Cities to give feedback on the design and use of sidewalks and how they interacted with adjacent bicycle facilities. This workshop also looked at the different types of separation between the two facilities – curbs, landscaping, linear directional indicators (LDIs), striping, as well as fully shared facilities. Participants provided feedback on how they navigated the spaces and how useful the separation was to them. While navigating these spaces, participants discussed what they were observing and what each aspect of the built environment was communicating to them. This panel discusses the outcomes, discussions, and design lessons learned from this workshop as they relate to the utility and effectiveness of various pedestrian and bicycle separations.
9:45-10:00 a.m. Break
10:00-10:45 a.m. Navigating the Journey of Trail + Bike Design – Prairie Rock Trail, Brett Harris, Amanda Prosser, Landscape Architect – ISG, and Brian Pauly - Mason City Recreation Department
10:00-10:45 a.m. Making Your Community More Bicycle Friendly, Cedar Falls Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission and Cedar Valley organizations
Presentation and panel session discussing the Cedar Falls Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission history and mission; how to coordinate, apply, and make progress with the Bicycle Friendly Community status; how the group works day-to-day on biking and walking (street reconstruction, snow removal, grants, Complete Streets policy, etc.); engagement through Safe Routes to School, Bike Month, community newsletter, safety campaigns, and more; Bike Network development and emphasis on connectivity; and dealing with trail and other route issues (maintenance, safety concerns, etc.)
10:45-11:00 a.m. Break
11:00-11:45 a.m. State and Federal Grant Opportunities, Milly Ortiz, Scott Flagg, and Susan Hollenkamp - Iowa Department of Transportation
Iowa utilizes a variety of programs and grants to fund the development and maintenance of multiuse trails. Grant managers from the Iowa Department of Transportation will describe the grant programs they administer, what projects are eligible, and how to apply.
11:00-11:45 a.m. Pedaling for Progress: How Bentonville, AR became the Mountain Bike Capital of the World, Erin Rushing, OZTB Consulting
Discover the remarkable transformation of Northwest Arkansas from a modest trail network to a global mountain biking destination. This session offers an insider’s look at how Bentonville evolved from just 5 miles of singletrack to over 500 miles of purpose-built trails in under a decade. Learn about the strategic vision, rapid development challenges, and community partnerships that fueled this growth—and explore the powerful economic and cultural impact these trails have had on the region.
11:45am-1:00 p.m. Lunch and Lunch Keynote: 99 Counties, 99 Bicycle Economies, Rob Moore, Scioto Analysis
Cycling is an engine of economic activity in every corner of Iowa. In this session we will discuss the findings from a first-of-its-kind analysis estimating the value of cyclist spending in all 99 counties. From retail sporting goods to rural restaurants, cyclist dollars support local jobs, boost small business revenue, and ripple across local economies. Whether you're an advocate, policymaker, or economic developer, this talk will challenge assumptions about who benefits from bikes and show why cycling infrastructure is part of a statewide economic strategy.
1:00-1:45 p.m. Railroad Corridor Transformations: “The LINC” Story - Springfield Illinois, Patrick Dunn-Drees and Bruce Niedermyer, and Dani Hodgson RDG Planning & Design
Discover how Springfield, Illinois is transforming an urban rail corridor into The LINC - a vibrant multi-use greenway that will connect neighborhoods, celebrate cultural heritage, and spark economic revitalization. This session will explore the project’s vision, community engagement process, and design strategies that integrate art, history, and active transportation. Attendees will gain insights into how rail-to-trail projects can serve as powerful tools for public health, placemaking, and social connectivity.
1:00-1:45 p.m. E-Bikes: Policy Into Action with BikeMN, Erik Noonan
E-Bikes are becoming increasingly common on trails and streets all over America, The result: More riders and more types of riders getting to experience the joy of biking. As communities in the upper midwest adapt to and adopt this popular mobility option, it is critical that regulations, education, and other programming make a concerted effort to maximize the benefits. Erik Noonan, Communications Manager of the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota (BikeMN) will present on what our partner organization and neighboring state to the north has done to become a national leader on the topic. Join us in learning how we can all work together to make the midwest even more synonymous with biking!
1:45-2:00 p.m. Break
2:00-3:00 p.m. Keynote Presentation: The Bike Listening Tour: Stories of Connection, Health, and Revitalization - Andrew Mohama
Join Andrew Mohama, a fourth-year medical student passionate about the intersection of bikes, health, and community, for a keynote presentation reflecting on his cross-country "Bike Listening Tour." The session will begin with a brief introduction, followed by the premiere of his documentary, capturing a snapshot of what he encountered along the way. Andrew will then share lessons learned and the changes sparked since the tour, exploring how cycling intersects with public health, community revitalization, and social connectivity. The session concludes with a Q&A, offering an interactive discussion on his experiences and insights.