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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: April 14, 2026 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item Number: 3 <br /> SUBJECT: Draft Orange County Trails Plan <br /> DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks <br /> and Recreation <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Draft Trails Plan David Stancil, 919-245-2510 <br /> Presentation Marabeth Carr, 919-245-2514 <br /> Kalani Allen, 919-245-2518 <br /> Abby Mattingly, 919-245-2510 <br /> PURPOSE: To review the draft Orange County Trails Plan and provide direction to the consultant <br /> and staff on next steps. <br /> BACKGROUND: Based on trail planning discussions held with the Triangle Trails Initiative and <br /> County Manager and Board members, the Board instructed staff in 2024 to develop a strategy for <br /> an Orange County Trails Plan. While trails planning has occurred over the years on a case-by- <br /> case basis in documents like the 2030 Parks and Recreation Master Plan and the Mountains to <br /> Sea Trail route adoption (2018), a formal trails plan for the County has not existed. <br /> A Request for Proposals was developed in the summer of 2024 and issued in September of that <br /> year. Gensler was selected as the consultant to prepare the plan, and the contract was awarded <br /> at the Board's Business meeting on December 10, 2024. As shown in the attached draft plan, <br /> project work got underway with a project kickoff in January 2025 including the consultant, staff and <br /> the Parks and Recreation Council, which serves as the steering committee for the Plan. <br /> In March 2025, GIS mapping and data analysis began, including review of prior plan efforts and <br /> on-site field visits to a number of potential trail locations based on preliminary assessments <br /> (summarized on page 14 of the draft plan and this process is also discussed in more detail in <br /> Sections 1-3 of the attached draft Plan.) <br /> Project goals were created from opportunities and challenges discussions held by the Parks and <br /> Recreation Council in early 2025. Five (5) project goals were identified: <br /> 1. Spark enthusiasm for county trail connectivity with an equitable, inclusive and engaging <br /> outreach process. <br /> 2. Develop a Trails Plan that reflects the community's vision and aligns with other County <br /> and municipality efforts, such as the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan (currently underway). <br /> 3. Create a comprehensive network of connectivity between key points of interest including <br /> work, home, school, commerce and public transit. <br />