Pellerin, Schilling honored for pioneering work on trails

PHOTO: Breaux Bridge businessman and civic leader Ray Pellerin (center) accepts an award from the American Trails organization for his work on Tour du Teche, the annual kayak and canoe race on Bayou Teche.

Tour du Teche director Ray Pellerin of Breaux Bridge and Scott Schilling of Lafayette, president of TRAIL, were honored at a national symposium here hosted by American Trails on May 19.
Pellerin was one of 10 people nationwide to receive the organization’s Trail Worker Award, recognizing “an individual that has made outstanding contributions and provided consistent support for trail planning, development, or maintenance. It is intended to recognize the efforts of a private or public sector individual working for enhanced trail recreation on either the local, state, or national level.”
The citation for Pellerin reads:
“Since retiring from his business career, Raymond Pellerin has dedicated his time and efforts to the annual Tour du Teche kayak and canoe Race, a marathon race spanning the entire 135-mile length of Bayou Teche in Louisiana.
“To make this three-day event successful, Raymond spearheaded collaboration between numerous stakeholders, including four Parishes and local Native American Tribal Lands, and joined forces with a local organization to keep the Bayou Teche clean.
“Over the years, Raymond has expanded his efforts, including developing the Petit Tour du Teche (for ages 5-17), creating instructional paddle day camps, and creating a mobile command center on the Bayou Teche to ensure it is a favored destination for racers and recreational paddlers for years to come.
“For the last six years, Raymond has committed himself to creating a world class event that showcases the culture and lifestyle of south Louisiana, preserves the Bayou Teche Paddle Trail, and keeps the Bayou clean.”
Schilling, who started TRAIL (Transportation Recreation Alternatives In Louisiana) over a decade ago, was one of a half-dozen people in the country to get the organization’s Trail Advocacy Award, “given in recognition of successful efforts to influence public policy relating to trail planning, trail protection, trail development, or maintenance.”
Schilling, the citation notes, “has done remarkable trail advocacy work in founding and serving as president of TRAIL (Transportation Recreation Alternatives In Louisiana), a trails advocacy group based in Lafayette, Louisiana.
“Although rich in natural resources for outdoor activities and great year around weather, the Lafayette area has limited facilities to encourage individuals to get outside and enjoy their environment. TRAIL has been a leading organization in our community. TRAIL’s efforts range from funding a marketing program to promote safe road cycling, purchasing properties to add to existing parks for the development of hiking trails, and providing the matching portion of grant requests submitted by other organization.”
Pellerin and Schilling’s activities converge at Parc des Ponts de Pont Breaux, the waterfront park in Breaux Bridge, where a first-class kayak landing meets the terminus of a bike trail.
Both men were nominated for the honors by Michael W. Domingue, recreational trails administrator, Louisiana Office of State Parks.
American Trails is a national nonprofit working on behalf of all trail types. It maintains one of the world’s largest online resources for trails, greenways, and blueways at www.AmericanTrails.org.