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There are a variety of ways you can help the cause of new and improved hiking and biking trails.
In some parts of the nation, hiking or biking groups are welcomed to conduct trail work days, making repairs and/or upgrades
to existing trails. Some of the more ambitious groups have actually procured the rights, resources, and finances to
construct new trails.
The National Forest Service generally has a "Public Lands Day" on September 30,
where citizens can do cleanup and maintenance work on National Forest lands. State parks often hold at least one "cleanup"
or work day each year, where the public is invited to contribute their time and efforts for improvements. May 5 will
be the day for public cleanup days in many locations across the state. If you would like to volunteer your time to help
out at state parks or with the National Forest Service, please contact the office nearest you. You can also check to
see if any of the agencies that do the trails upkeep, will accept financial contributions.
Hikers and bikers in
the Chadron area can help out the cause of establishing a connecting trail from Chadron out to the Pine Ridge Trail system,
by contacting their elected officials for new funding and support. Easements through small portions of private land
between Chadron and National Forest Service land would also be needed to accomplish this. So, FRIENDLY input from hiking
and biking enthusiasts to the affected landowners would also be very helpful.
Another way to support the development
and upkeep of all Panhandle area trails, is to talk to Nebraska's elected officials and ask for their support. It
is helpful to explain to them that having public trails and recreation areas are importan to you. Please ask them to
restore and increase critical funding for trails and recreational programs. Below, you will find contact information
for Nebraska's elected officials:
U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE)
202-224-4224 202-224-5213 http://hagel.senate.gov/public/
U.S. Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) 202-224-6551 202-228-0012
http://bennelson.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm
U.S. Representative Jeff Fortenberry
(R -01) 202-225-4806 202-225-5686
U.S. Representative Lee Terry (R -02) 202-225-4155 202-226-5452
http://www.house.gov/formleeterry/IMA/issue.htm
U.S. Representative Adrian
Smith (R -03) 202-225-6435 202-225-0207
https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml
To access the web page to e-mail
your state senator, click here: State Senators
http://www.unicam.state.ne.us/web/public/contact/senators
To e-mail Governor Dave Heineman click here: Governor Heineman http://www.gov.state.ne.us/mail/govmail.html
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