Transportation Recreation Alternatives in Louisiana
T.R.A.I.L.
T.R.A.I.L. is dedicated to building and maintaining outdoor recreation opportunities and infrastructure in South Louisiana. We focus on creating or enhancing parks, paths, and trails for cycling, hiking, running, walking, and paddling. In appreciation of Louisiana's environment, we aim to make Louisiana a more desirable place to live, work, and visit. We strive to promote positive lifestyle options by coordinating a variety of fundraising events throughout the year. This G.O.A.L. event series is used for fundraising and offers something for everyone. Get Out And Live! It’s for a good cause and it’s good for you.
What?
T.R.A.I.L.'s primary mission is to build recreational facilities; from bike lanes to bike paths to paddle trails to trail heads to maps to resting benches. TRAIL primarily works along side government agencies, individuals, and other organizations to help build and/or maintain recreational facilities.
Why?
We feel that there is a tremendous opportunity to improve general and casual recreation in Louisiana. Louisiana has the benefit of weather that permits easy year-round running, hiking, and biking activities. However, we feel there needs to be more definable access to enjoy the beautiful outdoor activities Louisiana has to offer.
Projects
RECENT:
T.R.A.I.L. purchased signs for the new walking trail at Evangeline-Longfellow park in St-Martinville, LA
T.R.A.I.L. provided 200+ man-hours, with the help of great volunteers, clearing hurricane damage and debris from the walking/hiking/running trail in Acadiana Park, in Upper Lafayette.
CURRENT PROJECT:
Working with Lafayette Consolidated Government on an RV park to be used by for our out-of-towners, and the community as a whole.
Continuing the clean-up at Acadiana park. and we will need to build a new bridge along the pat
LONG TERM PROJECT:
Working on a HUGE project building a new walking/running/cycling path that will not only serve the Lafayette Community but also help the local sporting events get off the city streets! MORE NEWS ON THAT in the coming months
PAST PROJECTS:
T.R.A.I.L. purchased property to add to Acadiana Park & Nature Station then cut the longest nature trail South of Chicot State Park.
In a partnership with the Rotary Club of Lafayette North we installed 4 bike racks-bench-kiosk structures in Lafayette.
In a partnership with Bike Lafayette we ran cycling safety advertisements on Google.com
We worked with the TECHE Project, St. Martin Tourism, and the Acadiana Area MPO to win a grant to fund a trail head in Parc Pont Breaux on the Bayou Teche that includes shower facilities.
T.R.A.I.L. has been a party to 4 grants helping fund the initial stages of the Atakapa-Ishak Trail (Parc Sans Souci to Beaver Park).
T.R.A.I.L. donated $15,000 to the Lafayette Central Park (the Horse Farm) in 2015.
Helped fund and direct the rebuilding of bridges in the Eunice walking park.
Worked with an Eagle Scout to install map kiosks and benches at Acadiana Park Nature Station
First Responders of Louisiana
First Responders of Louisiana is a new nonprofit that we are growing for Responders’ Race. In the early stages of planning this new event, we knew we wanted to not only honor them with this event, but also raise funds for First Responders of Louisiana needing assistance with (including but not limited to):
Post-Traumatic therapy
House Fires
Off-duty injuries
Higher education & training
Addiction
Family issues & support
Updating safety equipment.
Death of a spouse or child
Our board members and board of advisors will help select recipients of these funds. The boards consist of former and active First Responders, financial advisors, and representatives from companies who provide services & equipment to First Responders.
