The Maryland Department of Natural Resources' Greenways and Water Trails Program promotes the protection and creation of ecological and recreational corridors throughout Maryland. The goal of the program is to establish an interconnected, statewide network of greenways and land and water trails that preserve, protect and enhance Maryland's valuable natural treasures and provide opportunities for people to enjoy them.

Services and Partnerships:

The Greenways and Water Trails Program works to create partnerships with local governments, citizen groups, land trusts, businesses and other state and federal agencies. The Program provides a variety of technical assistance in the form of overall project coordination, data collection, GIS and cartographic (mapping) services and graphic or publication design. The Program also assists partners in leveraging or securing project funding where possible.

The Greenways and Water Trails Program coordinates efforts to protect and establish greenway corridors and linkages to the statewide system. The Program is involved in planning and implementing projects in every region of the state. The Department of Transportation and the Department of Planning are key partners in the statewide effort and share a leadership role which helps to provide funding for acquisition of scenic properties and development of pedestrian pathways.

Greenways and Water Trails staff serve on several state and regional committees including:

* Chesapeake Gateways Network Workgroup

* Chesapeake Bay Program's Public Access Workgroup

* Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee

* Maryland Committee for the East Coast Greenway

Program Products: 

* The Maryland Atlas of Greenways, Water Trails and Green Infrastructure

* Regional and site-specific water trail maps and guides

* The Statewide Land and Water Trails Map

* Maryland Trail Watch Newsletter

* Green Infrastructure and Green Print materials and information