amyPenn Trails LLC is pleased to announce that Amy Lutsko will join its team as our Senior Project Manager, starting September 8th. Amy will be responsible for trail project management including assessments, planning and construction. Amy will also be responsible for developing and delivering training services for our clients.

Amy will be leaving the Maryland Park Service, where she has been a Trail Manager and Training Officer since 2006. Amy managed Patapsco State Park’s 220 mile urban trail system until 2013. As Amy herself will tell you, “my passion for trails is endless. I love talking about trails, hiking trails, building trails, designing trails and helping others address their trail issues.” As Trail Manager for Patapsco Valley State Park, she developed a statewide sustainable trail curriculum. She has trained all levels of Maryland Park Service (MPS) staff, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) staff, Maryland Conservation Corps (MCC), Conservation Job Corps (CJC), multiple city and county staff, volunteers, and stakeholder groups in the diverse landscape of Maryland.

In 2012, Amy developed a field data/assessment collection system, utilizing Trimble Equipment and Pathfinder Software. The data collected is currently used for Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources electronic public Trail Atlas, trail management inventory systems and master trail plans. She has been the project lead for this park service effort, training Maryland Conservation Corps members and staff in trail assessment and data collection. To date, this effort has collected over 1500 miles of trail data.

Over the past decade, Amy has facilitated statewide training on Sustainable Trail Design, Construction and Maintenance, Search and Rescue, Boundary Recovery, Trimble Data Collection and Management Inventory Systems (ArcGIS), and Emergency Medical Response. She has developed a statewide curriculum for Basic Chainsaw Training for all staff, seasonal employees and volunteers. The course is a requirement and OSHA compliant for any chainsaw ground use.

Amy holds certifications from the International Arboriculture Society as a certified Arborist and Certified Tree Risk Assessor. She has created and implemented landscape plans for major tree plantings and native gardens in both Patapsco Valley and Rocky Gap State Park.