Experience as a thirding of place & encounter: trail conferences as spaces of possibility

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Abstract Type: Poster Abstract

Abstract

Equitable access to outdoor spaces, especially in urban areas, has been a challenging social issue which trail organizations like American Trails have been trying to address. According to their website, "American Trails supports and encourages respectful, equitable access to outdoor environments that are inviting, inclusive, and beneficial to all". American Trails also host a bi-annual International Trails Summit which brings together all kinds of stakeholders including trail planners, trail builders, trail supply vendors, community developers, and more. This trails conference facilitates networking between various trail stakeholders. In this sense, the trail conference is a thirdspace that not only replicates the existing connections that exist between trail stakeholders but is also a space of possibility where spatial aspects and moments of encounter come together to inform individual and collective identity and create "connector trails" between those who have been left out of or are new to the trail community. By seeking to understand the conference experiences that previous ITS attendees have had, we can identify ways in which space and encounter inform identity and experience and begin to explore possibilities for increasing inclusivity both at the conference and in the larger trail community. My research applies a multi-disciplinary approach, using theory from geography, sociology, anthropology and event planning to inform my research deign and analyze the data results. Using an applied anthropological lens, I envision these trail conferences as potential spaces of possibility that are a step towards making urban trails a more safe and inclusive space of belonging for all.