Thanks to the hard work of almost one thousand volunteers, 2013 was a record-breaking year for Forest Park’s trails.
This past year we scraped, brushed and raked 60 miles of trail, a 25% increase from 2012! This maintenance improves drainage and minimizes the accumulation of mud so you can hike, run and skip without falling flat. To repair trail erosion, we also built 514 feet of retaining wall (that’s 27,328 pounds of rock!) and armored 1,237 feet of trail (that took 41 cubic yards of gravel!). We also cleared 63 trees blocking trails and firelanes and built two bridges.
The year ahead will bring many more trees down (some already fell in last week’s wind-storm!) and we need your continuing help to keep the trails in good shape.
Mark your calendars for a few big trail work events coming up:
May 31: Volunteer Crew Leader Training. Learn the ins-and-outs of trail work so you can help lead larger work parties and get even more good work done on Forest Park’s trails!
June 7: National Trails Day. Join thousands of other trail enthusiasts across the country while you contribute to your favorite trails in Forest Park. Among the projects, we’ll be shoring up the Wildwood Trail just north of the Stone House to make it safer and more comfortable to traverse. Sponsored by REI.
June 24, July 29 & August 26: Summer Nights. Clear some trails after work, then kick back with a beer, all for the benefit of Forest Park’s trails.
September 27: National Public Lands Day. Enjoy the last few weeks of summer by helping prepare Forest Park’s trails for the long, wet winter.
Sign up for our volunteer email to know where and when to meet for all our exciting events!