Strategic Trails Plan

Share Strategic Trails Plan on Facebook Share Strategic Trails Plan on Twitter Share Strategic Trails Plan on Linkedin Email Strategic Trails Plan link

The Park Planning & Development team is updating the City's Strategic Trails Plan (STP), which will provide a framework for the future planning, design, maintenance, and preservation of the recreational paved trail system.

Throughout the planning process, numerous opportunities for input will be provided as we envision an expanding trail system that provides enhanced recreational opportunities, while connecting you to places you need to go.

Note: While the Natural Areas Department also provides many miles of natural and paved trails, the STP includes only the paved trails maintained and managed by the City of Fort Collins Parks Department. Additionally, the Mason Trail is not included in the planning study as it falls under the city’s Streets Department.

We look forward to continuing the buildout of a paved trail network that is accessible, safe, innovative, and built with intention for users of all ages, lifestyles, activity levels, and transportation modes.


STRATEGIC TRAILS PLAN PROJECT GOALS

  • Assess if the paved trail system is meeting the needs of the community, and determine opportunities and challenges for improvement.
  • Develop a shared vision for the expansion of the paved trail system to meet the future needs of a growing community.
  • Create transparency to trail funding, planning, design, construction and maintenance.
  • Explore and develop new policies to improve the current and future paved trail system.


WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THE STP PLANNING PROCESS?

  • Sign up for project updates with the "Stay Informed" link on this page. Periodic updates and event reminders will be sent directly to your email.
  • Click here to visit our interactive map of local trails and look at community comments regarding connections and trail plans. Note: New pins are no longer being accepted on the map. View the interactive map!


The Park Planning & Development team is updating the City's Strategic Trails Plan (STP), which will provide a framework for the future planning, design, maintenance, and preservation of the recreational paved trail system.

Throughout the planning process, numerous opportunities for input will be provided as we envision an expanding trail system that provides enhanced recreational opportunities, while connecting you to places you need to go.

Note: While the Natural Areas Department also provides many miles of natural and paved trails, the STP includes only the paved trails maintained and managed by the City of Fort Collins Parks Department. Additionally, the Mason Trail is not included in the planning study as it falls under the city’s Streets Department.

We look forward to continuing the buildout of a paved trail network that is accessible, safe, innovative, and built with intention for users of all ages, lifestyles, activity levels, and transportation modes.


STRATEGIC TRAILS PLAN PROJECT GOALS

  • Assess if the paved trail system is meeting the needs of the community, and determine opportunities and challenges for improvement.
  • Develop a shared vision for the expansion of the paved trail system to meet the future needs of a growing community.
  • Create transparency to trail funding, planning, design, construction and maintenance.
  • Explore and develop new policies to improve the current and future paved trail system.


WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THE STP PLANNING PROCESS?

  • Sign up for project updates with the "Stay Informed" link on this page. Periodic updates and event reminders will be sent directly to your email.
  • Click here to visit our interactive map of local trails and look at community comments regarding connections and trail plans. Note: New pins are no longer being accepted on the map. View the interactive map!


  • Focus Areas of the STP

    Share Focus Areas of the STP on Facebook Share Focus Areas of the STP on Twitter Share Focus Areas of the STP on Linkedin Email Focus Areas of the STP link
    • Alignment: Ensure the STP aligns with recommendations from supporting plans including, Parks and Recreation Master Plan, Active Modes Plan, Natural Areas Strategic Framework Plan, and Our Climate Future.
    • Equity of Existing & Future Trails: The STP will review proposed trails and trail spurs and provide recommendations on new trails to meet the needs of Fort Collins’ expanding population, ensuring equity across the system.
    • Community Input: During the STP process, staff will utilize a diverse array of communication tactics to engage internal and external stakeholders, including the formation of a community working group to steer the plan’s scope, policy, and proposed action items.
    • Safety & Accessibility: The STP will review current safety outreach practices and ordinances and provide recommendations to promote a culture of safety among users of the trail system.
    • Maintenance: The STP will analyze existing trail conditions, consolidate current and new maintenance concerns, and assign priorities to improvements needed.
    • Design and Construction Standards: The STP will review existing design standards and provide recommendations to ensure trail design standards and associated amenities are contemporary, relevant, and meet the future needs of Fort Collins’ growing population.
    • Development Review: The STP will provide recommendations for Land Use Code updates relative to new developments and provide recommendations on requirements for trail easement, cost shares, construction, maintenance, and trail connections.
    • Irrigation Ditch Compatibility: The STP will evaluate the feasibility of installing trails on, along, or across irrigation ditches.
    • Funding: The STP will review and summarize existing trail funding strategies and identify new funding opportunities to potentially accelerate the growth of trail construction.

  • StoryMap

    Share StoryMap on Facebook Share StoryMap on Twitter Share StoryMap on Linkedin Email StoryMap link
    supporting image

    Want to learn more about the history of the paved trail system in Fort Collins? Visit our StoryMap to journey through the development of the City's recreational trail system.

    Note: This StoryMap was created by the Geospatial Centroid at Colorado State University, in partnership with staff from Park Planning & Development.

Page last updated: 02 May 2024, 09:48 AM