Alumnus discusses his trail-building journey and how outdoor recreation in Tennessee is booming
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Bob Richards estimates he’s had a hand in building more than 200 miles of hiking trails in Tennessee during his 50-year career that started at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture.
In an interview with Our Tennessee, the UT System magazine, Richards talks about his career and how to build hiking trails. His work has won awards, including the 2013 Accessibility Enhancement award from the Coalition of Recreational Trails when he was the volunteer project supervisor for a paved trail and boardwalk at Nashville’s Beaman Park. He edited Pathways to Trail Building, the trail manual used by the state for years. At UT Knoxville, he majored in forestry, which is now housed in the School of Natural Resources in the Herbert College of Agriculture.
Being outdoors has again surged in popularity. The state has added 14 new parks during Gov. Bill Lee’s administration to bring the total to 63, with more than 1,100 miles of trails statewide. To meet the need, the Herbert College of Agriculture introduced the outdoor recreation and park management concentration within the forestry major. School of Natural Resources Professor Ryan Sharp is developing the program with an eye toward seeking approval for a standalone major. Across the state, UT Martin offers a minor in park administration.
Read more about Richards and learn more about the outdoor recreation and park management concentration on the Our Tennessee website.
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is comprised of the Herbert College of Agriculture, UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch and UT Extension. Through its land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach, the Institute touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. to Tennesseans and beyond. utia.tennessee.edu.