Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals

From Grant to Groundwork: Funding Accessible Trails

SORP · September 9, 2026

Advancing outdoor accessibility requires both technical knowledge and lived experience. In this session, learn how the City of Greeley partnered with a consultant team and a community advisory council to complete a bike trail accessibility audit grounded in real-world needs. Led by a physical therapist and an adaptive trails specialist, the project combined streamlined auditing tools with community engagement to deliver practical, actionable improvements. Participants will explore strategies for embedding universal design into daily operations and creating long-term, sustainable access across public lands.

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify common barriers to advancing accessibility in outdoor spaces.
  • Share City of Greeley’s solution using a Rails to Trails grant, a community task force, and accessibility consultants.
  • Discuss results of the audit plus lessons learned and the benefits of this collaborative approach

Competencies:

  • Physical Access
  • Welcoming & Belonging 
  • Business Acumen

Presenters:

  • Kelsey Devereaux, Everybody Outside Consulting 
  • Kristen Wilkinson, Environmental Planner at City of Greeley 

 

STEPS TO RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE FOR LEARNING CREDITS:

  1. ATTEND live webinar/view recording
  2. Complete the QUIZ
  3. Complete the SURVEY

This course offers the following credits: AICP CM, LA CES (most HSW), SAF CE, and Equivalency Petition (CEU, PDH, etc.). American Trails is a certified provider and is excited to partner with SORP to offer free learning credits to attendees. If you passed the quiz with a 75% or higher, a certificate will automatically be emailed to you. If you did not pass, you can retake the quiz to obtain a passing score and certificate.

Filed under: Webinar Recordings 2026 Webinars 2026 - Sept/Oct: Frontcountry Recreation: Collaboration, Access and Cultural Relevance