The adaptive mountain biking trail at Patapsco Valley State Park. (Photo courtesy Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park)
The mission of the State Highway Administration is to improve mobility for all transportation users, and that goal took a significant step forward earlier this spring with the official opening of a new adaptive biking trail in the McKeldin Area of Patapsco Valley State Park in Baltimore County.
The work to create Maryland’s first adaptive mountain biking trail was aided in 2023 when the State Highway Administration awarded $87,545 to the nonprofit Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park through the Recreational Trails Program. The Friends group worked closely with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources on the project.
Administered by SHA, the Recreational Trails Program channels funds from the Federal Highway Administration to local counties, jurisdictions, nonprofits and community groups to develop and maintain trails and trail-related facilities for motorized and non-motorized recreational uses. The reimbursable award matches federal funds with local funds or in-kind contributions.
“The opening of the Adaptive Trail at McKeldin marks a new chapter in the Maryland Park Service’s commitment to outdoor inclusivity,” said Dave Ferraro, Executive Director of the Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park. “In partnership with SHA, Friends is proud to lead the way in expanding access for every park visitor.”
At Patapsco Valley State Park, the Friends organization used the grant and other support to create a network of wider, smoother trail surfaces to accommodate adaptive equipment and users of all physical abilities.
Improvements along the five-mile trail also included signage to enhance navigation and safety, and accessible parking and facilities to provide easier access for all.
At the March 21 ribbon-cutting for the new adaptive trail at Patapsco Valley State Park, State Highway was represented by, from left, Brittnii Howell, Susan Solo, Tyler Ruth and Ray Moravec.(Photo courtesy Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park)
On March 21, SHA representatives and consultants joined with members of the Friends group, trail advocates and officials of the Department of Natural Resources to formally cut the ribbon on the new trail.
“We’re excited to be here with our SHA team to celebrate a tremendous collaborative project with the Maryland Park Service, Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park and others,” said Ray Moravec, Deputy Chief Engineer for the Office of Planning, Engineering and Real Estate at the State Highway Administration. “SHA is proud to assist in providing the resources that helped transform the first adaptive biking trail in Maryland from an idea into reality.”
Patapsco Valley State Park is Maryland’s oldest state park, with roughly 16,000 acres along 32 miles of the Patapsco River. The adaptive trail provides individuals with varied abilities with an opportunity to explore and enjoy Maryland’s tremendous natural resources.
Other recent projects benefiting from Recreation Trail Program awards include a pair of foot bridges in Rosaryville State Park in Prince George’s County that were built with help from Maryland Conservation Corps and Veterans Conservation Corps; and a realignment and extension of the western loop trail at Greenbrier State Park in Boonsboro. The Greenbrier project received a Recreational Trails Program award as well as funding from the Department of Natural Resources’ Program Open Space.
In addition to the Recreational Trails Program, SHA administers the Transportation Alternatives Program, which benefits projects that enhance mobility and accessibility such as bicycle and pedestrian facilities and conversion of abandoned railway corridors to pedestrian trails. In 2024, federal funds awarded through those two programs totaled $13.9 million for 26 projects across the state.
The Maryland Department of Transportation also grants funding for community bike and pedestrian projects through its Kim Lamphier Bikeways Network Program, which last year awarded $2.1 million for 10 projects.
Visit Maryland OneStop for access to applications for the grant programs, as well as other grant opportunities available through MDOT and other agencies.
Chanelle Wimbish, an advocate for expansion of Maryland’s adaptive trail facilities and member of the Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park, praised SHA’s support in helping create the trail. (Photo courtesy Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park).
Among those celebrating the McKeldin Area’s new adaptive trail was Chanelle Wimbish, a member of Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park and longtime advocate for expansion of Maryland’s adaptive trail facilities.
“Thanks to the partnership with SHA and other stakeholders, the vision of an adaptive biking trail for users of various abilities has come to life,” said Wimbish, who officially cut the ribbon to open the trail.
“As an adaptive athlete and park patron, it is so exciting to be able to enjoy the park even more with this adaptive trail,” she said.
According to the Friends organization, other partners supporting the trail project included Kennedy Krieger Institute, REI, the U.S. Veterans Administration, the Community Foundation of Howard County, the Chesapeake Bay Trust, The Ward and Karen Wensch Foundation and IMBA/Shimano.
Jim Joyner is a deputy director of communications at the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration.