These trails are for kids.... the kid in all of us. On February 7, 2009 while walking with my daughter Rachael at Don Davidson Park in Fayetteville, Tennessee we discovered land that we thought could one day be a trail or greenway.

1. Trails for Kids 2009
Who knew going for a walk with my
daughter would result in 3 miles of
public mountain biking and
hiking trails at Don Davidson Park in
Fayetteville, TN?
February 17
February 7
On a fun scale between 1-10 this
was a 2, until they rode a bike on
the trail they just built! The fun
factor turned into a 7 and I’m
February 17 sure it’s a 10 for everyone today!

2. Trails for Kids
Trails for Kids was started when I
went for a walk with my daughter
Rachael and discovered all the
land in Don Davidson Park that
was not being used. With the help
of 6 kids, sponsors, and friends…
Trails for Kids built 3 miles of
mountain biking and hiking trails in
2009. Thanks to Rickey Honey
Director of Fayetteville Parks and
Recreation, Jim Lee Fayetteville
City Administrator, Ray Fraley,
Steve Swindall, my wife Tina
(photographer) and of course my
children who went for walks and
believed that there could be a
trail… a “Trail for Kids”.

3. Proposal to Fayetteville Parks & Recreations
• Why a trail at Don Davidson Park Club Park?
Fayetteville has many parks, SJ King, Stone Bridge,
and Wells Hill. A bicycle trail would help all of these
parks so let’s start with Don Davidson.
• Lions Club is by far the largest and most productive
of all our parks, softball, soccer, and baseball are by
far the #1 sport at Lions Club. We believe this park
could be so much more, it’s still missing something,
a bicycle trail, 365 days of the year this park would
have activity. The land is there waiting for a trail,
this park would echo health and wellness year
round.
• Starting in 2009 several groups in Fayetteville will
make this project possible, Boy Scout Troop 357,
Trails for Kids & Fayetteville Parks and Recreation,
etc.
• Boy scouts will donate their time to build and
maintain this trail for service hours and future Eagle
Scout projects.
• Friends of the Trail will also help build and maintain
this trail, as well as raise money threw events to
help with future projects at Don Davidson Park.
• Fayetteville Parks and Recreation will over see this
project so not to infringe on other sporting activities.

4. Value to a community
• These articles show just how valuable a trail can be to a community.
• Hosted by American Trails.org
• Trails are important to home buyers, survey shows
• See the chart of priorities for features in new homes below:
• From National Association of Home Builders and the National
Association of Realtors
• In April, 2002 a survey of of 2,000 recent home buyers was co-
sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders and the
National Association of Realtors. The survey asked about the
"importance of community amenities," and trails came in second only
to highway access. Those surveyed could check any number of the 18
amenities, and 36% picked walking, jogging or biking trails as either
"important" or "very important." Sidewalks, parks, and playgrounds
ranked next in importance.
• Ranking much lower were ball fields, golf courses, and tennis courts.
However, the home buyers indicated that price and home size were
far more important than proximity to work, the city or schools. Given
three statements to choose from 62% indicated "the top concern was
price," while 31% said that "finding a home in the right neighborhood
was the top priority." Just 7% of respondents said that "being close to
work and minimizing the commute was really important."

5. Trails are considered very important!

6. Economic Benefits
• Trail users spend money on bicycles, other durable goods and
equipment maintenance related to their recreation, often in the October 25 & 26…
areas near the trails. Local hotels, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, Don Davidson Park
bakeries, gas stations, and other businesses also benefit from cyclocross racers tested
tourists’ spending. The state Department of Tourism developed these newly made trails!
numerous publications that promote statewide trail use.
• Studies show that long trails, which attract users from far away,
represent the most spending per user. Shorter, urban trails
generally get more users, so they also have a high economic
impact. This spending results in higher sales tax revenues for the
state and counties.
• For example, the communities along the Elroy-Sparta State Trail
have seen an increase in tourism since the trail opened in 1968.
The city of Sparta now proclaims itself the "Bicycling Capital of
America." Promotions by the cities of Elroy and Sparta attracted
businesses to serve trail users. The Wisconsin Bicycle
Transportation Plan 2020 cites data from a 1988 study of the Elroy-
Sparta trail that indicated a per person spending of $25.00 per day.
Once adjusted for inflation and assuming 60,000 visitors annually,
users of this trail spent in excess of $2 million per year on trail-
related activities.
• The presence of trails often increases the value of properties
adjacent to the corridors, especially those through residential
neighborhoods. The National Association of Home Builders cites
trails as the second and third most important amenity that would
influence people to move to a new location. Quality of life is an
increasingly important factor in attracting and retaining businesses
in a community, and trails are important contributors to the quality of
life. Corporations bring jobs to communities and help support
other businesses.
• Additionally, health improvement due to outdoor exercise can help
control medical costs in the long run.

7. Community Pride
Social Benefits Leopard Frog Loop was built
Trails can provide a sense of place and a source of over the 2009 spring break!
community pride. When integrated with features
such as historic sites, commercial or residential
areas, and parks, they can improve the overall
character of a region. They are beautiful places for
people to enjoy the natural beauty of our state. Trail
corridors can become outdoor classrooms where
children and adults can observe and learn about
their natural and cultural environment

8. Health Benefits
Health Benefits
Trails provide pleasant places for people to
walk, run, bicycle, or do other exercises, all
of which help control weight, blood pressure
and cholesterol levels, build strength and
endurance, and help prevent osteoporosis,
diabetes and depression.

9. Map of Don Davidson Park
3
Trails for Kids Map 2
1) Trailhead, map of the trail, rules of the trail.
2) King fisher trail, ½ mile in length, listen for the 4 2 3
1
King fisher when you ride this trail. 4
3
3) Perimeter trail, 1 mile along the edge of the
Ball fields.
4) Leopard frog trail, super sweet single track
That twist and turns through the flood plan, 1 mile 4
In length.
6
5) Leopard frog loop, a ¼ mile loop where leopard 5
frogs surprise every trail user.
6) Three bridges, one of many obstacles on the
Leopard frog trail.

10. Eagle Scout Project
August 2009 Boy scouts hanging Wood duck boxes
near the trail (Hunter Freeman's Eagle Project). 15 Wood
duck boxes were put out near the trail along the creek
and on the Elk River.

11. Planting SEEDS FOR OUR FUTURE!
September 2009…
Planting Water Oaks
and Dogwoods on the
Leopard Frog Trail. Over
100 native trees were
planted or from seed and
seedlings. Pine, Oak,
Dogwood, Redbud,
Walnut, and Tulip Poplar.
Privet had taken over Don
Davidson Park, we are
slowly eradicating
this pest.

12. The Brains of the Trail “Trailhead”
The Trails for Kids Trailhead on the south side of the lake,
has a map of the park, rules of the trail, map of the city of
Fayetteville with arrows to restaurants and businesses
that support Trails for Kids. 90% of the materials used
to build the trailhead Kiosk were from recycled wood.

13. Signs = Communication
Small signs help communicate flow and where trail users are you on the trail.

14. I can versus I can’t!
June 2009
Trails develop a sence of I can versus I can’t!

15. One memory after another!
Making memories on the trails!

16. Nana and the Grandkids
September 2009 December 2009
September 2009
September 2009 December 2009
September 2009
Making memories on the trails!

17. Surprise! Nature
Jewel Weed (Touch me Not) Aphids on a vine
Wasp Harlequin Bug
2009 Flowers and insects on the trail

18. More Nature!
Dragonfly (Mosquito Hawk) Bee Mimic, actually a fly!
2009 Flowers and insects on the trail

19. Beat the Freak Cyclocross Series
Bicycle riders came from as far as Tampa, Florida, Johnson city, and Nashville, TN
just to ride these newly built trails. September and October 250 riders came to
Fayetteville to race at Don Davidson Park in Fayetteville, TN. Bicycle racers can
have a positive effect on the local economy while they race - motels, restaurants,
gas stations, and grocery stores all can benefit from trails and bicycle racing.
Beat the Freak Cyclocross Series September,2009

20. Community Support!
Paint donated by The Paint Store to paint the trail markers and signs.

21. Never Doubt!
Margaret Mead

22. Sponsors & Friends
2009 Sponsors and Friends
• Planet Bike ,Hammer Nutrition, Pendergrass Supply &
Rental
• Little Caesars Pizza, Williams Office Supply, Cline
Towing
• Braden Surveying, , KENDA TIRE,The City of
Fayetteville
• Rickey Honey - Fayetteville Parks & Recreation
• Wal-Mart, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Lincoln Paving
• Tennessee Mountain Bike Alliance,
• Tennessee Bicycle Racing Association,,
• La Fuente Mexican Restaurant, Outback Steak House
• The Paint Store, Paper house, Freak Adventures
• Trails for Kids - Kevin Freeman & Family,
• Steve Swindal & Family, Ray and Debbie Fraley,
• Monty Hall & Family, Farris Ralston & Family,
• Kristina Pigg & Family, Tasha Osgood & Family,
• Chris Davis & Family, Cody Keele & Mika Keele,
• Casey Harman, Greg Taylor& Family, Todd Jenkins &
Family,
• Karen Gardner, Andy Mirick, Meme Hughes,
• Gail Randolph - Keep Fayetteville & Lincoln County
Beautiful
• Jim Lee –Fayetteville City Administrator, Dick Farrar
• Don Counts and Fayetteville Public Utilities