Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails

Our Mission is to Promote, Protect & Enhance
the multi-modal trails in Anne Arundel County.

Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization of dedicated volunteers.  The organization encompasses the B&A Trail, the BWI Trail, the Broadneck Peninsula Trail, South Shore Trail, and the WB&A Trail as well as new trails being designed or constructed. Friends support the Trails, County Staff and Park Rangers of the Department of Recreation and Parks and work with many partners, all of whom are dedicated to the trail systems in the county.  Funding sources include memberships, donations, purchase of Lasting Gifts, and grants.

Promote the Trails

  1. Trail Talk – monthly one page newsletter with trail highlights
  2. Facebook – recent activities and upcoming events including volunteer opportunities
  3. Safety and Wayfarer signs – guidance for trail users
  4. Community Outreach – held along the trails to share trail information and encourage membership

Protect the Trails

  1. Active advocacy for trails and trail users
  2. Member of East Coast Greenway and American Discovery Trail
  3. Coordinate removal of invasive vines along the trails to benefit the trees
  4. Earth Day event in April
  5. Make A Difference Day event in October

Enhance the Trails

  1. Offer a concert series in May and September at Hatton-Regester Green on the B&A Trail
  2. Co-host an annual Planet Walk in May with Anne Arundel Community College on the B&A Trail
  3. Coordinate volunteers (individuals and groups) to maintain flowerbeds, gardens, and pocket parks on all trails.
  4. Lasting gift program to provide the opportunity to honor a special someone, pet, or organization with the purchase of a brick, bench, bulletin board, or water fountain.
  5. Assist with Santa on the Trail in collaboration with Anne Arundel County Recreations and Parks

Our Project History

The following projects are supported by the Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails. Most of them have been designed and implemented by the Friends. Some are complete and others are ongoing.

The B&A Trail Park used the abandoned Baltimore & Annapolis Railroad right-of-way. It was purchased in 1981 and converted into the B&A Trail Park in 1990.  This trail is one of the most successful in the United States. It has been duplicated many times throughout the country. It is estimated that 2 million people visit the Anne Arundel County trails every year.

Hatton-Regester Green was the first pocket park added to the B&A Trail. Land adjacent to the trail in Severna Park was purchased in 1995. The Green was designed and planted by the Friends and was completed in 1999. Gardening in the green is supported by local garden clubs and individuals. May and September concerts are given at the gazebo for everyone’s enjoyment.

Millennium Trails is a national program to enhance the trails in the United States. Hillary Clinton chose the B&A Trail as the location for her Millennium Trails keynote speech. Donations were made to create art and place it on the trails designated Millennium Trails. The B&A Trail Park was one of those trails. The Trail’s Millennium Green, a two-mile linear garden, is located in Glen Burnie.

Planet Walk is a representation of the solar system scaled to fit on the B&A Trail. The distance from the sun to Pluto has been shrunk to 4.7 miles on the trail. The location of each planet is marked with a descriptive sign. Two sculptures, representing Sun and Pluto, have been constructed. The sun Sculpture is located at the Stan Lebar Plaza. Stan was founder of the Friends.