Volunteers propose revamped 'Adopt a Trail' program to bolster county trail maintenance

The Open Space Working Group presented a redesigned Los Alamos County Adopt a Trail volunteer program to County Council on Oct. 7 that would shorten commitments, provide task‑level signups and create a permanent county coordinator position to manage volunteers.

Designer and working group member Celeste Raffin told council the current program’s low participation stems from large time commitments and vague task descriptions. Her proposal instead would offer three stewardship models: organized county-run events, one‑day adoptions (pick a trail or a task and pick the date) and custom adoptions for groups that want to design a specific project. “My main goal is I want a program where Corey Steyrn and Wendy Parker and Eric Peterson, we're not a thorn in their side. We want to be a program where they say, ‘Man, this is the best thing that ever happened to us,’” Raffin said.

Why it matters: County open space and trails cover more than 4,000 acres and some 58 miles of trails, Raffin said, and volunteer help can reduce maintenance costs while building local stewardship. The redesigned program emphasizes short, time‑bound tasks, training videos and a web/app sign‑up experience. The working group also proposed a tiered “SWAG” reward system and public recognition to retain volunteers.

Staff response and constraints: Eric Peterson, the county open space specialist, and Parks & Recreation staff said the concept is promising but requires resources. Peterson told council that initial setup — a website, an app integration, training materials, and a paid program coordinator — will take staff time and money. “This is outside of our current scope of work, so it would require additional resources, man hours, people hours, additional funding,” Peterson said. Staff said they were open to further coordination and asked council to consider resource and budget needs in the county’s next budget cycle.

Council reaction: Councilors praised the concept and suggested the program could be integrated with the larger Trails and Open Space Management Plan. Several councilors said they would like staff to return with a proposed budget and implementation timeline for the program so council can consider funding during the next budget process. Raffin said the working group could beta test a web portal and help develop task lists and training before a formal launch, and suggested a 2026 “go‑live” target if council and staff provide initial support.

Ending: The council did not vote on program funding Oct. 7 but directed staff to work with the working group and return with more detailed cost and staffing information for council review.