The words "Forest City" are meant to describe both a place and philosophy. Our approach to trails is rooted in finding harmony between both the physical needs of the natural world and the psychological needs of the human experience.

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Ralph Protano started his trails journey two decades ago, when he reduced all of his belongings to his vehicle and set off to join the New Hampshire Conservation Corps. There, he became inspired by the great tradition of work skills passed on from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and soon found himself criss-crossing the nation to study under the industry's most decorated trail professionals while working on some of the most celebrated trail systems in the country. 

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Over the last decade, he has committed himself to Northeast Ohio and the surrounding region, working to instill the same sense of culture and community that he discovered during those foundational years. In that time he has lead countless projects: ranging from organizational building to all forms of trails training, master planning, new trail design and layout, trail construction, graphic design and all phases of project management.

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With unwavering determination, he has positioned himself as one of the most accomplished trail professionals in the state; capable of uncovering elegant trail solutions for both hard-to-access backcountry locations and some of the most intensely used parks in the country. With a toolkit that ranges from deep traditions to cutting-edge technology, he immerses himself in the unique circumstance of each individual site and generates results that match the exact need of the situation at hand: always considering the landscape, natural resources, trail users and land managers as one shared client.