Join us!
March 5, 2026 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Salem Lake Marina Center – Winston-Salem, NC
We are thrilled to invite you to the 11th annual Piedmont Legacy Trails Summit in 2026. This March, we’ll gather to explore the latest ideas, innovations, and strategies shaping the future of trails across our region. Whether you’re interested in strengthening outdoor recreation opportunities, enhancing accessibility, leveraging emerging technologies, or simply advancing your trail projects, you’ll find inspiration and insights to take your work to the next level. You’ll also have the chance to connect with fellow trail professionals, community leaders, and advocates from the Piedmont Triad and beyond.
There will be optional coffee and networking from 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM in the lobby.
The welcome session will begin at 9:00 AM.
During lunch we will present this year’s Legacy Awards to outstanding trail advocates, trail projects, organizations, political leaders, businesses or funders for significant commitment to creating trails and working for enhanced trail recreation in the Piedmont Triad.
Presented By:
Andy Williamson
Sponsor the Summit
As a sponsor of the 2026 Piedmont Legacy Trails Summit, you’ll have the opportunity to showcase your brand while helping to educate and inspire action toward a better future for the Triad and all of North Carolina.
Schedule & Presentations TBD
Calling for presentation proposals!
Do you have innovative ideas, success stories, or valuable insights to share? We are now accepting presentation proposals for the 2026 Summit. We want to hear from trail builders, park managers, community partners, volunteers, and advocates who can inspire others.
9:00-9:30 AM
Coffee & Networking - Visit our Sponsor tables
Legacy Awards
Now accepting nominations
past Legacy Award Recipients
2025
Nolan Carter
Trail Project Award: Alamance County Parks & Recreation, Haw River Trail
Elizabeth Jernigan
Trail Project Award: City of Greensboro, Keeley Park Adaptive Mountain Bike Trail
Dabney Sanders
Persistence Award: Action Greensboro, Downtown Greenway
Jenny Edwards
Trail Advocate Award: Resilient Trails Network
2024
Rep. Kyle Hall
Government Leader Legacy Award: NC General Assembly
Uwharrie Trail Blazers
Legacy Group Award
Daniel White
Government Partner Award: Surry County
Reidsville Area Foundation
Funder Legacy Award
2023
Mike Simpson
Retired, Greensboro Parks & Recreation
Hope Haywood
Randolph County Commissioner
Andrew Sam
Friends of Alamance Parks & Alamance Mountains-to-Sea Trail Crew Leader
Winston-Salem Greenways
Outstanding Trail Project in Winston-Salem
2022
Mary Joan Pugh
Randolph County Trails Coordinator
Mark Gatehouse
Piedmont Fat Tire Society
Harry Clapp
North Carolina Rails-to-Trails Volunteer
Yadkin River Park
Outstanding Trail Project in Davidson County
2019
Greg Yahn
MST Crew Leader, Guilford and Alamance Counties
Haw River Trail
Outstanding Trail Project in Alamance County
2018
Roger Bardsley
Retired, Guilford County Planning
Elkin Valley Trails Association
Outstanding Trail Organization in Surry County
What is Piedmont Legacy Trails
Explore Past Summits
In 2025, trail advocates and outdoor recreation leaders came together to exchange ideas on strengthening outdoor culture, creating engaging programs, elevating trail-based tourism, and more. Attendees enjoyed a delicious lunch as we celebrated our Legacy Award honorees, recognizing their lasting impact on the trail community. The Summit concluded with an inspiring look into adaptive mountain biking, giving participants the chance to see the equipment up close and experience it in action.
The 2024 summit provided trail advocates and managers with strategies to secure funding and develop sustainable trail projects. Sessions covered engaging foundations, utilizing the Great Trails State Program, and accessing state and FEMA funding sources. A featured presentation discussed using school campuses for trails, using examples from Rockingham County to show how school trails support both recreation and outdoor education.
Panelists also emphasized balancing conservation with recreation, sharing real-world examples of sustainable trail designs and successful partnerships. The summit concluded with a lunch where four Legacy Awards were given to exceptional trail advocates.
On March 10th, 2023, we learned about best practices, exciting projects across the region, and connected with other professionals who are advancing trail development, ending with an optional trail field trip. Our keynote speaker Gary Vernon, Senior Program officer for Steuart and Tom’s personal foundation and is considered one of the leading experts in developing mountain bike trail systems, overseeing design and construction of over 600 miles of world class mountain bike trails and growing. His work includes the Oz Trails region of Northwest Arkansas as well as the Arkansas State Parks Monument Trail projects. In 2019 he was the recipient of the American Trails Chairman award for advancing trail design and changing the landscape for trail systems.
In 2022, the Summit hosted 4 virtual session: Engaging Volunteers, State & Regional Trail Planning, Innovative Strategies for Funding, and Case Studies of Effective Partnerships for Trails. The Summit also featured 4 field trips to trails in the Piedmont Triad. All sessions were recorded and can be watched on our YouTube Channel.
Held virtually, the 2021 Summit hosted sessions on Trail Funding, Community Health & Trails, Trails & Economic Development, and Trail Design & Building. The Summit also featured 4 field trips to trails in the Piedmont Triad. All sessions were recorded and can be watched on our YouTube Channel.
Due to the COVID 19 Pandemic, in 2020 the Summit was postponed and became a Virtual Conversation Series in the Fall. Recordings of sessions about The Greenway Imperative, Trail Tourism, Trail Advocacy, and Equity on Trails. All sessions were recorded and can be watched on our YouTube Channel.
