Oregon State Trails Plan: Share Your Trail User Experience in Focus Groups this May

Oregon Trails Coalition is partnering with Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) to convene trail user focus groups throughout May to inform the State Trails Plan update to supplement the current public survey open through April 30th with a deeper examination of different trail user experience needs and priorities. While the public survey seeks to get input directly from trail users broadly, these focus groups are intended to gain a deeper understanding of the needs and priorities of specific trail user groups. We are hoping to hear from organization leaders, stewards, and volunteers, as well as community members at large.

These 90-minute Zoom sessions facilitated by OPRD and Oregon Trails Coalition staff will gather specific user input for Oregon’s State Trails Plan 10-year outlook. The Trails Plan includes/informs: 

• OPRD Grant Criteria (priority needs/issues from a user perspective) 

• Resources and tools for trails and recreation providers statewide 

• Action Plan: Trends and issues related to trails in the state and potential actions for land managers and partners (likely: funding, maintenance, accessibility, staff capacity, and professional development). All focus groups will discuss both "close to home" user experience as well as dispersed recreation user experience.

What these focus groups are not:

• Focus groups are not a map exercise; we will not be putting or prioritizing lines on a map.

• The State Trails Plan does not dictate OPRD or other agency policies or management priorities, but rather serves as a resource for recreation providers across the state (which may include both our state and federal agencies).

If you are interested in participating in any of the below focus groups, please register using the respective links below. 

• Hiking, Trail Running, Backpacking, Equestrian User Focus Group Tuesday, May 27, 4:30-6:00 pm

• Mountain Biking and Bikepacking Focus Group Thursday, May 8, 4:00-5:30 pm

• OHV / ATV Focus Group Monday, May 5, 12:00-1:30 pm

• Paddling (Flat water and Whitewater) Focus Group Thursday, May 29, 4:00-5:30 pm

• Winter/Snow Trail Focus Group (Non-motorized and motorized) Thursday, May 15, 2025 12:00 -1:30 pm

• BIPOC Nature Network Trails Plan Focus Group Wednesday, May 7, 12:00-1:30 pm

• Adaptive Equipment Users and Disability Trails Plan Focus Group Wednesday, May 14, 12:00-1:30 pm

• Agency Partners Trails Plan Focus Group Meeting TBD

A form link will be provided during all focus groups through which community members who have barriers to participation and who are not getting paid by their employer for participation may request a participation stipend of $40 for participation in a 90-minute focus group.

Contact: steph.noll@oregontrailscoalition.org or 503-290-4569 (text ok) to request interpreter services and/or other accommodations to support your participation.