Our Mission
Garrett Trails is a nonprofit, volunteer organization dedicated to the development of a well-used network of high-quality, sustainable trails that provide access to Garrett County’s historic, municipal, and environmental treasures which link to trails outside the county. Garrett Trails believes outstanding quality trails are important to the economic development of the county, will attract visitors, and will promote fitness and outdoor enjoyment for county residents.
Our History
In 1999, the Garrett County Commissioners requested that the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce initiate a recreational trails plan for the County. In turn, the Chamber of Commerce created and the County Commissioners appointed the Recreational Trails Task Force to review the opportunities for trail development. These early efforts resulted in the development of the Master Trail Plan for the county and on-going engagement of committed professionals around trail development in the county.
Early accomplishments included:
With these successes and an on-going need to support trail development and raise the profile of trails in the county, Task Force Members voted on June 18, 2008, that Garrett Trails be formally re-organized as a non-profit organization dedicated to carrying out the County’s Master Trail Plan and more generally trail development and promotion of a sustainable, well-used trails network throughout the County.
Early accomplishments included:
- Creating a Master Trail Plan for the County
- Establishing a Process for Deeding Easements to County
- Raising over $35,000 through the first 5 years of The Taste of Garrett
- Developing the Senator Paul Sarbanes Trail at Jennings Randolph Lake
- Becoming a Forum for Trail Related Information Sharing
- Partnering with State and County to Install Share the Road Signs
With these successes and an on-going need to support trail development and raise the profile of trails in the county, Task Force Members voted on June 18, 2008, that Garrett Trails be formally re-organized as a non-profit organization dedicated to carrying out the County’s Master Trail Plan and more generally trail development and promotion of a sustainable, well-used trails network throughout the County.
Board & Committees
The Board of Directors has overall legal responsibility for the organization and responsible for the overall guidance of the organization. The board ensures Garrett Trails is carrying out its mission in an efficient and effective manner and supports the implementation of activities to achieve the mission. The Board of Directors are people passionate about the mission of creating a well used network of trails, but they are also mediators of the public trust placed in nonprofit organizations and as such they have specific governance and oversight duties often summarized as follows:
The Board currently meets the third Wednesday of each month, 8:30 AM, Garrett Visitor Center.
Our Board
Advisory Committee
Board Committees
We have two committees of the board of directors. You do not have to be a board member to serve on a committee. Committees and their chair person are as follows:
- Duty of Care - Member must exercise reasonable care when making decisions as a steward of the organization
- Duty of Loyalty - Member must give undivided allegiance when making decisions affecting the organization
- Duty of Obedience - Member must be faithful to the organization’s mission
The Board currently meets the third Wednesday of each month, 8:30 AM, Garrett Visitor Center.
Our Board
- Mike Dreisbach, Owner, Savage River Lodge, Garrett Trails President
- Mike Logsdon, Director of the Adventure Sports Institute at Garrett College, Vice-President and Chair of the Mapping and Public Awareness Committee
- Steve Green, Co-Owner, High Mountain Sports, Garrett Trails Treasurer
- Peggy Jamison, Mayor, Town of Oakland, Garrett County Commissioner Representative, Garrett Trails Assistant Secretary
- Rodney Glotfelty, Health Officer, Garrett County Health Department, Trail Maintenance Committee Chair
- Bob Nickel, Bill's Marine Service
- Jay Moyer, Superintendent, Garrett County Roads
- Robin Jones, Treasurer/Secretary, Town of Grantsville
- John McCracken, Wisp Resort
- Chris Stewart- Representative, Town of Friendsville and Friendsville Trail Alliance
Advisory Committee
- Larry Tichnell, Garrett County Commissioner
- David Cotton, Maryland Dept of Planning, Mountain Maryland Trails
- Cindy Sharon, Garrett County Economic Development Department
- J.B. Churchill, Garrett County Zoning and Planning Department
- Jen Durben, Garrett Heritage Area Manager
- Luke Mongrain, Department of Natural Resources
- Barry Ritchie, Maryland State Highway
- Dave Ritchie, Garrett County Roads Department
- Robert Stephens, Director of Behavioral and Family Health, Garrett County Health Department
Board Committees
We have two committees of the board of directors. You do not have to be a board member to serve on a committee. Committees and their chair person are as follows:
- Mapping and Public Awareness Committee - Chaired by Mike Logsdon of AdventureSport Institute at Garrett College - Focuses on increasing overall awareness about available trails and how to access them.
- Trail Maintenance Committee - Chaired by Rodney Glotfelty Health Officer of Garrett County Health Department - Focuses on the process of maintaining existing trails and organizing volunteer trail clean-up days.