Program Background
As part of our nation's Millennium commemoration of the year 2000, the United States Department of Transportation is working with the White House Millennium Council, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and other partners to “honor the past and imagine the future” by implementing a Millennium Trials Initiative.

Millennium Trails is a national initiative to recognize, promote and support trails which preserve open spaces, interpret history and culture and enhance transportation, recreation and tourism.  In honor of the millennium, the initiative will designate over 2000 trail projects in three categories, stimulating new activities to celebrate, enhance and develop those trails.

The Alabama Millennium Trails Project is co-chaired by Alabama's First Lady Lori Allen Siegelman and Pete Conroy, Jacksonville State University's Director of Environmental Policy and Information Center.

The program has three components:

Community Trails 2000 – 2000 local trail projects will be selected for national recognition across the country. An announcement relating to Alabama's Community Millennium Trails is scheduled to made in early February of 2000. The top five Alabama trails in this category will receive a funding opportunity of $10,000 each.

Millennium Legacy Trails – one Legacy Trail has been selected from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. In Alabama the top trail chosen was the Pinhoti Recreation Trail, however, the top four trails have received a funding opportunity of $25,000 each. The other top three recipients are the Selma to Montgomery Trail (funding refused due to the availability of existing federal funds), the Bankhead Trail System, and the Alabama Coastal Trail System.
    On October 21 Pete Conroy and Alabama First Lady Lori Allen Siegelman traveled to Washington DC for a White House Ceremony with Hillary Rodham Clinton. The occasion was for an announcement of the nation's 50 Millennium Legacy Trails. The Pinhoti Trail as selected as Alabama's top pick. Accompanied by Alabama State Parks Director Don Cooley, Conroy and Mrs. Siegelman met with a variety of officials to promote Alabama's natural assets and increase the state's level of ecotourism. Asked what the White House announcement might mean for the Pinhoti, Ms. Siegelman said, “it will hopefully bring lots of people to the trail.”

National Millennium Trails- Nationwide, a total of sixteen trails were selected to symbolize America's legacy for the Millennium. In Alabama, the Chief Ladiga Rail Trail was nominated but not selected by the White House "Green Ribbon Panel". Maybe we'll have better luck in the next millennium?!!!

In all categories, individuals, corporations, trail groups, local governments, or state and federal agencies have made nominations.  The advisory committee was appointed to review and rank the nominees.