Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Texas Paddling Trails Texas Paddling Trails

Initiative Initiative

Shelly PlanteShelly Plante

Nature Tourism ManagerNature Tourism Manager

Texas Parks and Wildlife DepartmentTexas Parks and Wildlife Department

TPWD’s Texas Paddling Trails TPWD’s Texas Paddling Trails InitiativeInitiative

www.tpwd.state.tx.us/paddlingtrails

Potential Community PartnersPotential Community Partners

• Convention and visitors bureausConvention and visitors bureaus

• Chambers of commerceChambers of commerce

• County commissionersCounty commissioners

• Local river groups and liveriesLocal river groups and liveries

• Texas Department of TransportationTexas Department of Transportation

• Local river authorityLocal river authority

• More!More!

TPWD AssistanceTPWD Assistance

• Work with community partners to develop written site information for Trails promotional materials

• Promote paddling trails: web development, press releases, advertising, marketing pieces, etc.

Main Texas Paddling Trails WebsiteMain Texas Paddling Trails Website

Individual Trail Websites:Individual Trail Websites:

Safety, Ethics and Conservation Message:Safety, Ethics and Conservation Message:

Magazine AdvertisingMagazine Advertising

Paddling Trails Paddling Trails RackcardsRackcards• Free to CVBs, Free to CVBs,

Chambers, Chambers, Tourist Offices Tourist Offices and TXDOT and TXDOT TICsTICs

• Explains how to Explains how to navigate and navigate and use the use the Paddling Trails Paddling Trails websitewebsite

TPWD AssistanceTPWD Assistance• Conduct community and river site visits

• Help with kiosk design specifications

• Participate in any public meetings organized by the community partners

• Provide official road signs for Paddling Trails

General Texas Paddling Trail General Texas Paddling Trail CriteriaCriteria

• 4 - 12 mile segments 4 - 12 mile segments • Public access and parkingPublic access and parking• Natural or historical attractions Natural or historical attractions • Adequate water quality, depth or river flows Adequate water quality, depth or river flows • Population center nearbyPopulation center nearby

Wooden and Metal Kiosk DesignsWooden and Metal Kiosk Designs

TPWD provides design plans for kiosk of your choice as well as the interpretive panel insert.

Interpretive Panel DesignInterpretive Panel Design

Opportunity to EducateOpportunity to Educate

Community InvolvementCommunity Involvement

• Provide a summary of important local information for use in promotional materials.

• Maintain put-in and take-out public access points

• Provide list of local liveries for website.

• Construct and maintain informational kiosks at all put-in/take-out locations.

• Draft and distribute a press release promoting trail

• If needed, organize a public meeting to discuss the trail and address any comments, questions, and concerns of the local community.

Accepting Nominations for Future TrailsAccepting Nominations for Future Trails

Easy to Complete Form Online:Easy to Complete Form Online:

Future Trails Submission ProcessFuture Trails Submission Process• Submit TPT Application, working with TPWD Submit TPT Application, working with TPWD

staff as needed.staff as needed.

• Allow up to 6 months for application review. Allow up to 6 months for application review. Certification could take 12-18 months.Certification could take 12-18 months.

• Receive acceptance notification or Receive acceptance notification or communication from TPWD.communication from TPWD.

• Meet in person to discuss Order of Events Meet in person to discuss Order of Events after TPT acceptance and to develop after TPT acceptance and to develop Partnership Agreement between TPWD and Partnership Agreement between TPWD and Community Partner. Schedule survey.Community Partner. Schedule survey.

ReferencesReferences

Texas Paddling Trails Initiative:Texas Paddling Trails Initiative: www.tpwd.state.tx.us/paddlingtrails

• TPWD Recreation Grants Program:TPWD Recreation Grants Program: www.tpwd.state.tx.us/grants/

Shelly PlanteShelly PlanteTexas Parks and Wildlife DepartmentTexas Parks and Wildlife Department

512-389-4500512-389-4500shelly.plante@tpwd.state.tx.usshelly.plante@tpwd.state.tx.us