Bill would put coast-to-coast path on national map

Sen. Chris Coons is trying to put Delaware on the national map. At an announcement at Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes April 22, Coons vowed to introduce legislation in the Senate to add the American Discovery Trail into the National Trails System.

The 6,800-mile trail travels through 15 states from Cape Henlopen State Park to Point Reyes National Seashore in California. It would be the first coast-to-coast trail in the national system, joining dozens of other well known trails like the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

“This trail should really be a prominent, nationally known trail,” said Coons.

Serinda Connor, Delaware's ADT coordinator since 2012, opens her Milton home to the dozens of people who embark on the long journey. What makes the American Discovery Trail so special for these people, she said, is that it showcases the country's beauty and history as it takes travelers through all parts of the United States.

A bill to nationally recognize the trail was introduced in 1999 by Alaskan Sen. Frank Murkowski. At the time, it had unanimous support from the Senate, but was unable to clear the House. When Murkowski left office to become Alaska's governor, the legislation left with him and has not been reintroduced until now.

Coons said the measure will require little funding, which will go toward signage, maintenance and upkeep. In talking with people who've completed the trail, Connor said, she's heard Delaware is among the best marked states. Some of the funding will be used to increase signage throughout the trail, she said.

Government involvement seems to be a sticking point for some western members of the House, Coons said.

“My impression is that we have [legislators] who mistakenly fear this would lead to expropriation by the federal government of private land,” he said.

Peter Schoettle, legislative liaison and coordinator for the trail in Maryland, said legislators must understand the bill in order to garner support.

“They think making this official would increase the power of the federal government, which it doesn't do,” he said. “Making this official doesn't change this state park at all, it remains a state park, and it's just like that across the country.”

Much of the trail utilizes existing trails and roadways and takes travelers through state and national parks and forests as well as private land. Traveling eastward from California, the trail splits in Colorado, creating a northern and southern trail. The two paths reconnect in Ohio, to travel as one to the trail's end in Delaware.

Hikers enter Delaware in Bridgeville, traveling along roadways toward Georgetown. After passing through Redden State Forest, travelers are taken through the hearts of Milton and Lewes before ending at the Atlantic Ocean in Cape Henlopen State Park. When the Lewes-Georgetown Rails to Trails path is complete, the route could be modified to take hikers off roadways and onto the trail.

For more information about the American Discovery Trail, go to www.discoverytrail.org.