The Elizabeth River Trail Foundation Hires First Programs Coordinator

NORFOLK, Va. –July 2025 The Elizabeth River Trail Foundation is pleased to announce the hiring of Austin Lindhorst as the new Programs Coordinator. Lindhorst will work to promote both enjoyment and responsible stewardship of the Elizabeth River Trail as a National Recreation Trail and public recreation and transportation amenity. By using engaging techniques, he will connect people with the land, water, and resources in meaningful ways while sharing the Foundation’s role in the trail and offering ways the public can support its mission.

“With the ERT’s recent designation as a National Recreation Trail, along with weekly cruise traffic and the growing demand for more programming, both on and off the trail, a dedicated Programs Coordinator that can help us meet that need in both environmental stewardship and more recreational offerings for the whole community just made sense,” said Kindra Greene, executive director of the Elizabeth River Trail Foundation. “We are delighted to bring Austin to the team. As a Certified Interpretive Guide with a passion for outdoor recreation he’s a tremendous asset to the Foundation and fills a critical role in our mission of serving more of Norfolk.”

In this part-time role, Lindhorst will primarily be responsible for educating and engaging trail visitors, including leading tours, tabling events, coordinating volunteer groups in clean-ups, beautification, and trail maintenance projects, developing and delivering educational programs appropriate to the group and needs of the community, and providing information to visitors.

Lindhorst received his Bachelor of Science degree in recreation management, with a minor in sustainable business, from Appalachian State University, where he concentrated his studies in outdoor experiential education. He has worked for the U.S. National Park Service as an interpretation park ranger and education technician providing hands-on educational experiences for two large national parks across the country, including Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, and has additionally served as an educational instructor for the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources with the North Carolina Aquariums.

His passion for helping and teaching others, combined with his love for sustainable tourism practices and professional advocacy of natural & cultural resource protection, will be instrumental in the management of the Foundation’s over 100 free programs throughout the year.

 “I believe that everyone needs a sense of civic belonging and connection to their home, with their neighbors, with the culture, and the physical surroundings,” said Lindhorst. “The Elizabeth River Trail provides a vital, welcoming means of connecting with others and the natural world, not just for long-standing community members, but also for those who are new residents or visitors to Norfolk seeking an honest and fun connection with the area. It’s a 10.5-mile-long community center without walls; there is something for everyone to find a sense of place.”

If you would like to host an event on the trail, partner with the Elizabeth River Trail Foundation, or sponsor an ERT program, please email hello@elizabethrivertrail.org.

The Elizabeth River Trail Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides the planning, program, and advocacy for the Elizabeth River Trail connecting Naval Station Norfolk to the Virginia Beach Trail. The Elizabeth River Trail runs 10.5 miles through businesses, and historic attractions and is within a 5-minute walk of 28 neighborhoods. The multi-use trail is designed for walking, running, and biking. It comprises 11 sections from Norfolk State University, through Downtown Norfolk and Old Dominion University to NIT Terminals along the Elizabeth River. The Foundation has completed multiple new unique and award-winning amenities, including kayak launches, play sculpture, and a double turbo challenge course in Plum Point Park, and most recently, the installation of the first ERT hydration station. Major sponsors include CHKD, Downtown Norfolk Council, PRA Group, and the City of Norfolk.