The morning of Saturday, November 6 broke cool and crisp with some of the first frost of the fall accumulating on windshields and across the ground. The cloudless sky and bright sun quickly dispelled the chill lingering in the calm air and provided the perfect weather for working outdoors. Ten volunteers gathered that morning by the James N. Wolfe Softball Fields to work with the Department of Public Works staff to perform general trail maintenance tasks as part of the new Forest Preserve Trail Maintenance pilot program. This program was developed by the Forest Preserve Advisory Board and approved by city council to improve trail conditions and address safety and sustainability issues along a limited portion of trails in the Hamilton tract of the Forest Preserve.
The group began by constructing a small trench to allow water to drain from the trail when it rains. With this new drainage feature, trail users should have safer and less muddy conditions. The group then divided and tended to different trail sections. The first group headed to the Pumpkin Walk section to brush over trails, close unauthorized trail segments and improve drainage on the downslope side of the trail. The second group moved further up the Eastway trail to address erosion issues by installing a rolling grade dip along the trail. This feature will slow down rainwater and guide it off the trail toward a natural drainage area. After both tasks were completed, the volunteers then removed some invasive plants along the trail and at the trail head to improve access.
After a morning of hard work, the volunteers cleaned up the worksite and enjoyed a good stretch before leaving to enjoy the remainder of their Saturday. The work completed will improve trail conditions and make for a safer and more sustainable trail system.
The City of Greenbelt and the Department of Public Works thank all of the volunteers who dedicated their time to this project and contributed to the improvement of shared natural resources. For more information about the Trail Maintenance Program or about volunteering with the City of Greenbelt, contact Environmental Coordinator Kevin Carpenter-Driscoll at kdriscoll@greenbeltmd.gov.
