Governor Proclaims North Carolina Year of the Trail 2023

WHEREAS, North Carolina's natural beauty is critical to its residents’ quality of life, health, and economic well-being; and

WHEREAS, the parks, greenways, trails, and natural areas across our state are welcoming to all and provide a common ground for North Carolinians of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to access the state’s rich and diverse natural, cultural, and historic resources; and

WHEREAS, North Carolina’s natural assets and resources are integral to disaster recovery and resiliency to climate change for future generations; and

WHEREAS, our state’s nature trails vary from less than a mile in length to the Mountains-to-Sea Trail that stretches more than 1,000 miles from the mountains to the coast; they range from rugged footpaths on mountain ridges to bikeways along abandoned railway corridors, from canoe trails down our state' s rivers to bridle trails in the rolling Piedmont, from trails through state parks to footpaths and greenways through local neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, trails offer quality-of-life benefits to all North Carolinians as expressions of local community character and pride, as outdoor workshops for science education, as tools for economic revitalization, as free resources for healthy recreation, as accessible alternative transportation, and as sites for social and cultural events; and

WHEREAS, the North Carolina Trails Program is dedicated to helping residents, organizations, and agencies plan, develop, and manage all types of trails ranging from greenways and trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding to paddle trails and off-road vehicle trails; and

WHEREAS, North Carolina, known as the “Great Trails State,” has authorized twelve State Trails that showcase our state’s diversity of landscapes and communities; and

WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Transportation published the Great Trails State Plan that identifies a network of shared-use paths and trails that connect every county in North Carolina, with a focus on connections between population centers and North Carolina State Parks; and

WHEREAS, the North Carolina General Assembly designated 2023 as the Year of the Trail in North Carolina to promote and celebrate the state’s extensive network of trails that showcase our state’s beauty, vibrancy, history, and culture; 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim 2023, as “NORTH CAROLINA YEAR OF THE TRAIL” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.