Hiking Stimulus

Chuck Flink of North Carolina's News&Observer writes we should build trails like we did during the great depression.

DURHAM -- Projects undertaken through the New Deal's economic stimulus programs during the Great Depression have become some of our nation's most enduring, treasured places.

Many are park and trail projects that enable people to get outdoors and enjoy the natural world. One of the most visionary projects was the Appalachian Trail, now world-famous and hiked by more than 3 million people each year. As Congress considers a new stimulus package, park and trail projects should again be one of the highest priorities.

Many trail and greenway projects in North Carolina could be developed quickly, and would provide jobs in construction and in the manufacturing of materials such as concrete, asphalt, bridges, boardwalks, signs, hand tools and heavy equipment.

The trails in North Carolina he wants to build are

1. Mountains to Sea Trail map
2. East Coast Greenway map
   
3. The Carolina Thread Trail map
   
4. Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail no map
   

This is the kind of stimulus I can get behind.