Bay State Trail Riders Association, Inc. (BSTRA) is planning a 31st Anniversary Celebration of National Trails Day on Sunday, June 11th.
Why such a big celebration? Because if there is just one day of the year that defines what BSTRA is all about, it is National Trails Day!
National Trails Day (NTD) exists to encourage all Americans to get outside, connect with local outdoor clubs, businesses, community groups, and parks and recreation departments as well as federal land managing agencies to experience, appreciate and celebrate trails — the natural places where they can find scenery, peace, happiness and health. Dedicated volunteers, outdoor enthusiasts, trail lovers, and those new to the outdoors are all key ingredients to National Trails Day. It’s a time to give back to trails and introduce new people to the outdoors.
It is in that spirit of National Trails Day that BSTRA holds an annual NTD fundraising event to raise money for Massachusetts trail projects on properties open for equestrian use.
Participants at Previous NTD Events
Trail Projects are Funded by this Event
Every year BSTRA puts money into our MA trail system. We select trails which are badly in need of maintenance, whether it is brushing back, grading, adding fill, correcting erosion issues, cleaning out or adding drainage ditches, repairing or building bridges, adding trail signage — or some combination of these trail improvements.
BSTRA has several exciting trail improvement projects for 2023 that are already in the planning stages. They include trail improvements, including bridge repairs and trail work, in the Douglas and Upton State Forests. Work has started on the connector trail on the 17-acre piece of property that we purchased in Douglas. Improvements are planned to the trails at Hodges Village Dam in Oxford, MA. There is potential trail development planned in Hubbardston near the Mt. Jefferson Conservation area. And lastly, in partnership with Wyndham Land Trust, we’re working on developing a parking area and mapping the trail system at Bull Hill Preserve in Thompson, CT, as well as further developing trails near Quaddick State Park and the LeClair Preserve in Thompson, CT.
BSTRA is always open to considering additional trail improvement projects. If you know of a worthy trail project on public land and would like us to consider it, please contact bstra@charter.net
Interesting statistics —
In 2022 more than 108,950 individuals participated in 5,340 activities in all 50 states. Participants among the most popular activities included equestrians, hikers and mountain bikers.
There was a total of 94 trail work projects reported, completing 347 total miles of trail improvements. This was accomplished by 12,314 volunteers, contributing a total of $1.18 million in volunteer labor value.
National Trails Day was originated by the American Hiking Society in 1993.