CUMBERLAND — Mike Dreisbach said it’s time to “get more people excited about trails.”
The level of enthusiasm, however, appears to be growing across the state just fine all by itself.
A statewide trail network will be the focus of regional roundtables hosted by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The Western Region meeting is scheduled for June 3 at Greenbrier State Park east of Hagerstown.
Dreisbach is president of Mountain Maryland Trails and vice president of Garrett Trails. The two organizations help to promote existing trails, including the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal towpath, as well as advocate for the expansion of those and other trails.
Dreisbach is one of several representatives from Garrett and Allegany counties, including economic development and the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce, who plans to attend the roundtable.
“It could be a really big deal,” Dreisbach said.
Garrett Trails is spearheading an effort for a connection to the Great Allegheny Passage tentatively called the Continental Divide loop, which would come off the passage at Meyersdale, Pa., to Penn Alps Restaurant and then off the passage at Confluence, Pa., and eventually to Friendsville.
The extension would include Deep Creek Lake State Park, Meadow Mountain and the town of Oakland, Dreisbach said, and has the support of several key officials and elected representatives.
“It’s an expensive trail ... but at the same time, if you look at the impact of the Great Allegheny Passage, this trail could be easily a $75 (million) to $100 million-per-year tourism generator. I want to make sure there’s some real planning here.”
The existing 20.47 miles of the Great Allegheny Passage were built without the need for DNR’s support. That’s not the case with the planned extension.
Allegany County trail extensions include going under Main Street in Frostburg through the former railroad tunnel. The tunnel is now owned by the county. The spur could be used to connect the Georges Creek area along state Route 36 into the Great Allegheny Passage.
Another extension would be a connection of downtown Cumberland to Hyndman, Pa.
John Wilson, state trails coordinator with DNR, said the intent of the four regional roundtables is to get trail advocates to focus “big-picture stuff.”
“What I’m trying to do is get some input from folks in regards to what a trail network within the state of Maryland might look like,” Wilson said.
Wilson’s effort follows a state Department of Transportation plan, “Maryland Trails: A Greener Way to Go.” The development of that plan focuses on a long-term projection of how a seamless trail network throughout the state can increase commuter options.
Wilson said a statewide summit will be scheduled in the fall after accepting input at the four regional meetings.
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