Although trails exist throughout our nation, it appears that a small minority of children and families are actually using them. New research supports how infusing play along trails or shared use paths, which can be located in parks, or along greenways, can dramatically increase the frequency and duration of pathway uses by children and families. When you invest in innovative, playful pathway designs, you are offering a network of intriguing linear play environments that connect children's homes to daily life destinations in a meaningful way- sparking their interest in departing on a new adventure.

Our parent company, PlayCore, alongside American Trails, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, and the Natural Learning Initiative, College of Design, NC State University, created Pathways for Play™, a guidebook designed to help communities identify the best locations for playful community paths. The booklet also describes how to create trails that are infused with "play pockets" that provide opportunities for engaging and playing along the trail.