HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 06-02-2026; 8-e - Trails Day Proclamation 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 2, 2026
Action Agenda
Item No. 8-e
SUBJECT: Trails Day Proclamation
DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks
& Recreation (DEAPR)
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Proclamation Abby Mattingly, 919-245-2510
PURPOSE: To approve a proclamation declaring June 6, 2026 as "Trails Day" in Orange County.
BACKGROUND: June 6th has been declared National Trails Day for 2026 by the American Hiking
Society. National Trails Day aims to inspire individuals and organizations across the country to
take action to maintain and improve upon local trail networks. The American Hiking Society
encourages communities to share their passion for the outdoors by joining a local trail event,
committing to collect trash on local trails, and advocating for trail protection.
Orange County trails connect residents, and access to parks and open space have consistently
been ranked as a high priority. Parks and nature preserves in the County contain over 20 miles
of trails, including a large segment of the State's Mountains to Sea Trail. National Trails Day is an
opportunity to encourage the community to get outdoors and connect with local trails.
Trails offer benefits to communities as an outlet for healthy recreation, alternative transportation,
and contribute to an improved quality of life. As asserted in the Climate Action Plan, trails can
provide shelter from the sun, cooling temperature, resilience to flooding, and carbon
sequestration. By affirming June 6, 2026 as Trails Day, Orange County exemplifies the
community's passion for trail-centric infrastructure, and advocates for a future of trail stewardship.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with adoption of the proclamation.
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN: This item supports:
• GOAL 2: HEALTHY COMMUNITY
OBJECTIVE 7. Invest in services and programs that improve the health and quality of life
of the community (e.g., recreation and public open spaces, arts, etc.)
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve and authorize the
Chair to sign the proclamation declaring June 6, 2026 to be Trails Day in Orange County.
2
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROCLAMATION - TRAILS DAY
WHEREAS, June 6th has been declared National Trails Day for 2026 by the American Hiking
Society: and
WHEREAS, National Trails Day inspires individuals to take easy actions to make a difference,
such as leaving trails better than when they found them, committing to trail service, and
advocating for the protection of public land; and
WHEREAS, National Trails Day is an opportunity for the community to get outdoors, connect with
others, and ensure a continued legacy of trail stewardship; and
WHEREAS, Orange County trails connect people, towns, natural areas, parks and open spaces,
and other cultural and natural resources; and
WHEREAS, public and non-profit parks and nature preserves within Orange County contain more
than 20 miles of trails across the county with plans to add more, including a large segment of the
State's Mountains to Sea Trail that stretches more than 1,000 miles from the Smoky Mountains
to the Outer Banks; and
WHEREAS, trails offer benefits to communities as expressions of local character and pride, as
outdoor workshops for science education, as tools for economic revitalization, as free resources
for healthy recreation, as accessible alternative transportation, and as sites for social and cultural
events; and
WHEREAS, parks and open space have consistently been ranked as a high priority among
Orange County residents including through recent Strategic Plan surveys; and
WHEREAS, the adopted 2023 Climate Action Plan asserts that living in a green community
contributes to an improved quality of life, as well as providing climate resiliency; and
WHEREAS, trails in wooded areas provide shelter from the sun, cooling temperatures, resilience
to flooding, and carbon sequestration benefits; and
WHEREAS, annual trail runs and community hiking activities on Orange County trails and nature
preserves exemplify a passion for trail-centric recreation.
NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, do hereby proclaim June
6, 2026 as "TRAILS DAY" in Orange County and commend its observance to all people.
Adopted by the Orange County Board of Commissioners this 2nd day of June, 2026.
Jean Hamilton, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
Laura Jensen, Clerk to the Board