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11 <br /> 1 WHEREAS, the trails that span across our community are an integral part of the recreational and <br /> 2 transportation possibilities of our area and promote an enjoyment of scenic beauty by residents <br /> 3 and visitors; and <br /> 4 <br /> 5 WHEREAS, the parks, greenways, trails and natural areas in our community are welcoming to all <br /> 6 and provide a common ground for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to access our rich <br /> 7 and diverse natural, cultural, and historic resources; and <br /> 8 <br /> 9 WHEREAS, Orange County's natural assets and resources are integral to disaster recovery and <br /> 10 resiliency to climate change for future generations; and <br /> 11 <br /> 12 WHEREAS, Orange County trails and others across the state connect people, towns, natural <br /> 13 areas, parks and open space, and other cultural and natural resources, with Orange County's <br /> 14 nine parks and nature preserves providing more than 13 miles of trails— including seven miles at <br /> 15 Little River Regional Park and Natural Area, and with plans to add more, and including a large <br /> 16 segment of the State's Mountains to Sea Trail that stretches more than 1,000 miles from the <br /> 17 mountains to the coast; and <br /> 18 <br /> 19 WHEREAS, trails offer quality-of-life benefits to all as expressions of local community character <br /> 20 and pride, as outdoor workshops for science education, as tools for economic revitalization, as <br /> 21 free resources for healthy recreation, as accessible alternative transportation, and as sites for <br /> 22 social and cultural events; and <br /> 23 <br /> 24 WHEREAS, annual trail runs such as the annual Little River Trail Run and community hiking <br /> 25 activities on Orange County trails and nature preserves are significant in importance to show how <br /> 26 valuable trails are to Orange County residents; and <br /> 27 <br /> 28 WHEREAS, the North Carolina General Assembly designated 2023 as the Year of the Trail in <br /> 29 North Carolina to promote and celebrate the State's extensive network of trails that showcase our <br /> 30 State's beauty, vibrancy and culture; and <br /> 31 <br /> 32 WHEREAS, North Carolina is known as the "Great Trails State"; <br /> 33 <br /> 34 NOW THEREFORE, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, do hereby proclaim 2023 <br /> 35 as the "YEAR OF THE TRAIL" in Orange County, and commend its observance to all people. <br /> 36 <br /> 37 Adopted by the Orange County Board of Commissioners, this the 7th day of February, 2023. <br /> 38 <br /> 39 <br /> 40 Jamezetta Bedford, Chair Laura Jensen, Clerk to the Board <br /> 41 Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> 42 <br /> 43 <br /> 44 A motion was made by Commissioner Fowler, seconded by Commissioner Hamilton, to <br /> 45 approve and authorize the Chair to sign the proclamation declaring 2023 to be the "Year of the <br /> 46 Trail" in Orange County <br /> 47 <br /> 48 Chair Bedford offered a friendly amendment to approve the county joining the Great Trails <br /> 49 State Coalition as a government partner organization. Commissioner Fowler accepted the <br /> 50 amendment. <br /> 51 <br />