Lakeshore Foundation, in partnership with the Alabama Trails Commission, was awarded a grant from the Recreational Trails Program funded by the U. S. Department of Transportation and a grant funded by the Curtis & Edith Munson Foundation to conduct a pilot program at Alabama's Oak Mountain State Park. The pilot included the purchase of state of the art trail measurement technology, assessment of 32 miles of pedestrian trails, implementation of Trail Access Information signage throughout the park, and training of professionals and user groups on the Universal Trail Assessment Process. Now, Oak Mountain State Park features 40 signs that serve as nutritional labels for the trails, marking grade, elevation changes, width of pathways and surface hardness. People of all ability levels can use these signs to determine the accessibility of the trails and choose which will be best for their hike.  The project will continue by training more Universal Trail Assessors to spread in to other trails and parks across the state.

Learn more about the Universal Trail Access Information Process (UTAP) from Beneficial Designs: http://www.beneficialdesigns.com/services/trails-shared-use-path-assessments/the-universal-trail-assessment-process-utap.