Rotary Program: 6/9/04

Program Chairperson: Tim Campbell

Speaker: Pat Bradley, Funding Coordinator, Pine Mountain Trail Conference

Pat Bradley lives in Whitesburg, Ky. and has spent most of her professional career working with non-profit organizations primarily in the field of arts and entertainment. She is presently an independent consultant working with the Pine Mountain Trail Conference with the goal of creating a linear state park of hiking trails along the ridge line of the Pine Mountain range that will eventually reach from the Breaks Interstate Park to the northern border of Tennessee near the Cumberland Gap National Historic Park.

Pat stated that the Pine Mountain Trail Conference was formed in December of 1999 and shortly thereafter was recognized by the IRS as a 501C -3 as a non-profit organization whose goal is to construct a trail for hikers, backpackers, and campers along the Pine Mountain ridge in Southeastern Kentucky and northern Tennessee. To achieve this goal, parcels of land will need to be purchased and construction of the trail itself completed. The association is working closely with the Department of Parks for assistance in acquiring the lands and develop the trails. Through that affiliation, the Conference has obtained the status as a state park which will pave the way for the eventual goal of finishing the trail. Volunteers have been the driving force since the inception of this park and presently there are 17 board members serving in that capacity. Thirty miles of the trail is already completed and there is great hope that by the end of the summer it will reach all the way to where it intersects with Highway 119 from Letcher County into Harlan County. The Pine Mountain Trail Conference is a member of the American Hiking Society, which has undertaken an initiative in conjunction with the National Parks Services’ Trails, Rivers, and Conservation Assistance Program to form an organization called the Southeastern Foot-trails Coalition. The goal of that organization is to link all the trails to form 5,000 miles of hiking trails from Kentucky through Tennessee and other southern states all the way to the southern tip of Florida. The economic potential for hotels, restaurants, and stores that carry hiking and camping supplies all along the trail could be a tremendous help to the local communities. The Conference is hoping to accomplish three major goals this year. One is to expand the membership of supporters to 300, the second is to complete the construction of the next leg of the trail and third, to raise enough funding to hire a full-time executive director to lead the organization. The availability of such a park in this area would not only benefit the economy but also provide a healthful activity for so many that would educate our people about the beauty and ascetic value of our mountain terrain. Students from elementary and secondary schools as well as college students could take advantage of such an activity for outings and educational experiences. Pat ended her presentation with a question and answer session and many of the Rotarians showed an interest in this new development. Thanks Pat for your interest in our beautiful mountains and the tourism potential they can provide. - J. Morgan Chapman