Prince George’s has a ton of trails, but they’re not all well-connected to each other. The county’s Department of Parks and Recreation recently released a draft of a plan for fixing that, as well as building hundreds of miles of new trails. It’s looking for public input to make the plan as strong as possible.

Image Prince George’s County’s draft Trails Master Plan.

There are currently over 300 miles of trails in Prince George’s. Many are loop or recreational trails, such as the Watkins Regional Park loop trail, and are located within M-NCPPC property. They provide excellent hiking, equestrian, and mountain biking opportunities. Other trails, such as the Anacostia Tributary trail system or the Henson Creek Trail are great trails that connect parks and neighborhoods.

But while Prince George’s has excellent individual facilities, it’s not all that easy to get from one county trail to another, which makes it challenging for people to get to various destinations on foot or bike.

That’s where the Trails Master Plan, created by Prince George’s Department of Parks and Recreation, comes in. The county will use the plan to create a trail network that “provides all residents and visitors with access to nature, recreation, and daily destinations; enriching the economy, promoting sustainability; and increasing opportunities for health.” This plan will contribute to achieving Formula 2040, the county’s general plan for completing 400 miles of new trails over the coming decades (“nine miles of trail per year over the next 30 years”).

There’s more than one type of trail

One of the plan’s key roles is to make recommendations for which type of trail should go in which locations, depending on the type of use it will get.

Primary trails will form a nearly nearly-contiguous network of paths for walking and biking that not only connect M-NCPPC parks, but also link various activity centers identified in Prince George’s Plan 2035 General Plan. There are currently 65.6 miles of primary trails in Prince George’s, and the plan aims to get the number up to 293.

A primary trail. Image Prince George’s County’s draft Trails Master Plan.

Also part of the plan are secondary trails, which will include mostly paved paths that are designed to connect neighborhoods and other parts of the built environment with the primary network. These will be for shorter trips, and may not be used as heavily as the primary trails. Prince George’s currently has 110.5 miles of secondary trails, and the plan calls for 399.

The third major trail type in the plan is the recreational trail, which is designed to meet fitness, nature-access, and recreational needs. Recreational trails are often made of soft surfaces, and are primarily for mountain biking, hiking, and equestrian trips. The plan recommends an additional 102 miles of recreational trails to expand on the existing 153.

Image Prince George’s County’s draft Trails Master Plan.

Where trails are going

Here are some of the plan’s key recommendations:

  • A primary trail along Central Avenue, which would create a connection between DC’s Marvin Gaye Trail and the Largo Town Center Metro

The Marvin Gaye Trail. Image from Google Maps.

  • An extension of the WB&A Trail along MD-704

The WB&A Trail. Image from Rails-to-Trails Conservancy/TrailLink.

  • A secondary trail connecting the Woodrow Wilson Bridge with Oxon Hill Farm National Park
  • A recreational trail linking Rosaryville State Park with Jug Bay

The plan also makes recommendations for how the Department of Parks and Recreation can best manage and maintain the county’s growing network of trails. Although maintenance and operations may not be as exciting as building new facilities, keeping trails clean, safe, and comfortable are critical to keeping trail users happy.

Specifically, the plan suggests setting aside money specifically for trails so it can take care of needs like resurfacing, repairing bridges, and small construction projects. The plan also recommends a monitoring program to keep tabs on trail conditions so routine maintenance and furniture inspection is sure to get done.

What do you want in Prince George’s trails plan?

The Department of Parks and Recreation is hosting a public meeting today, June 7, to share its draft and solicit comments and suggestions from Prince George’s residents and other trail users. It’s at 8pm at the Department of Parks and Recreation Auditorium, 6600 Kenilworth Avenue, Riverdale, MD 20737.

Also, the public comment window for the draft plan is open until June 23rd. You can view the draft plan and leave feedback here.