Outdoor Afro author Rue Mapp, in town for the launch of President Obama's America's Great Outdoors Initiative, stopped by the Metropolitan Branch Trail for a walk with D.C. neighborhood residents, park activists and cyclists. As contractors worked over the weekend to complete a major new section of trail, the group discussed how to sustain engagement with the surrounding neighborhood and the city's larger African American population after the trail's grand opening celebration on June 5.

Recently, Outdoor Afro hosted a bike ride in Richmond, Calif., aimed to get many of that city's black residents back on their bicycles. Many aspects of that ride can be applied to rides near other urban pathways; for example, having the ride snake through the heart of a neighborhood before going to the trail helps raise consciousness among area residents. When a group of 25 cyclists go by on the street, after all, people tend to notice!

The potential of the Metropolitan Branch Trail to be more than a simple right-of-way also inspired many of the walk's participants. Along the trail's length, there are spots for permanent murals, gardens, bike stations and more. Although construction on this section of trail is nearing completion, the work is just beginning for many who live in the surrounding neighborhoods and care about this trail.