Update and News
Friends:
Workday Recap
Thanks to all that participated in last Saturday's workday at the park. For those who were unable to attend, we got a great deal done in a couple areas of the park. For starters, we closed off several fall line trails located under the playground. All of these trails were experiencing erosion in varying degrees and needed to be closed. We first tilled the soil with a garden tiller so that new vegetation would be able to take root. We moved topsoil into some areas where the topsoil had eroded away in order to improve the chance that new vegetation will take hold. As David Adkins used his chainsaw to cut fallen trees left by the tornado, other volunteers used the branches and trunks to cover and block the old fall line trails in a manner that will significantly slow the effects of erosion. The only trail left open in that area is now the Bluebird Loop (medium loop). Signage is needed to direct users to the restrooms at the bottom of the hill. That should minimize the creation of unauthorized social trails such as the ones we closed.
We also benched and groomed the trail-tread on the newest section of trail on the Red Cedar Loop (small loop) in the BP easement. The trail runs parallel with the old trail and is only a few hundred feet long. However, its creation was needed to move the trail uphill from the soggy area where it was. Also, the old trail was straight and flat, causing it to be boring and hold water. Not only was it relocated uphill, it was given slight turns to create grade reversals so that water will sheet over and drain from the trail. It also has a flowing shape consistent with the rest of the trail. A small portion of this new trail still needs to be benched but will be done soon.
A special thanks to Judith Tate and Suva Batin for providing lunch (I hope I did not forget anyone), it was delicious.
Total volunteers: 9
Total volunteer hours: 26
Independent Maintenance
For those of you who maybe can't make the workdays but would like to volunteer to do maintenance during the week, there are some projects you can do. Trimming vegetation back from the trails is always needed, especially in the areas such as the easements that get a lot of sunlight. You can use your gas trimmer (Weed-Eater), shears, or loppers to accomplish this. Also, we did not complete the benching on the new section of trail discussed above, feel free to help out by completing this if you have experience benching trail. Just try to match your work to the work already done and remember to maintain about 5% outslope for drainage.
I continue to notice more and more people using the park and the trails. I think that there are three things to attribute to this: 1) Stacy Goodwin and the county making the park a priority; 2) the Sheriff's deputies being more visible within the park at all hours of the day; and 3) the great work done by FORP on the trails and trying to keep the park clean. I encourage everyone to keep up the good work.
Running Off the Unwanted
Speaking of safety, it is no secret that there are some individuals who come to the park with illegal and/or improper intentions. You know who I'm talking about! I have found that people who are in the park for improper purposes do not like for the legitimate users to talk to them; they would rather be invisible (except to those with whom they associate). I have started parking close to these individuals, speaking to them, and making them aware that we see them. THEY DO NOT LIKE IT. In fact, many have left the park after I parked near them or just said, "hello, how are you today." I encourage everyone to take measures such as these to discourage illegal or improper activities in the park. Always be polite and never do anything that would jeopordize your safety (or your manhood), but if we just say "hello" and let them know that we see them, I think they will eventually leave. My favorite is parking behind them and commenting on their car: "Nice car, I haven't seen one like that here before." or "I see you have Virginia tags, what brings you to our park here in Tennessee." They will not stick around, promise.
Chris
Workday Recap
Thanks to all that participated in last Saturday's workday at the park. For those who were unable to attend, we got a great deal done in a couple areas of the park. For starters, we closed off several fall line trails located under the playground. All of these trails were experiencing erosion in varying degrees and needed to be closed. We first tilled the soil with a garden tiller so that new vegetation would be able to take root. We moved topsoil into some areas where the topsoil had eroded away in order to improve the chance that new vegetation will take hold. As David Adkins used his chainsaw to cut fallen trees left by the tornado, other volunteers used the branches and trunks to cover and block the old fall line trails in a manner that will significantly slow the effects of erosion. The only trail left open in that area is now the Bluebird Loop (medium loop). Signage is needed to direct users to the restrooms at the bottom of the hill. That should minimize the creation of unauthorized social trails such as the ones we closed.
We also benched and groomed the trail-tread on the newest section of trail on the Red Cedar Loop (small loop) in the BP easement. The trail runs parallel with the old trail and is only a few hundred feet long. However, its creation was needed to move the trail uphill from the soggy area where it was. Also, the old trail was straight and flat, causing it to be boring and hold water. Not only was it relocated uphill, it was given slight turns to create grade reversals so that water will sheet over and drain from the trail. It also has a flowing shape consistent with the rest of the trail. A small portion of this new trail still needs to be benched but will be done soon.
A special thanks to Judith Tate and Suva Batin for providing lunch (I hope I did not forget anyone), it was delicious.
Total volunteers: 9
Total volunteer hours: 26
Independent Maintenance
For those of you who maybe can't make the workdays but would like to volunteer to do maintenance during the week, there are some projects you can do. Trimming vegetation back from the trails is always needed, especially in the areas such as the easements that get a lot of sunlight. You can use your gas trimmer (Weed-Eater), shears, or loppers to accomplish this. Also, we did not complete the benching on the new section of trail discussed above, feel free to help out by completing this if you have experience benching trail. Just try to match your work to the work already done and remember to maintain about 5% outslope for drainage.
I continue to notice more and more people using the park and the trails. I think that there are three things to attribute to this: 1) Stacy Goodwin and the county making the park a priority; 2) the Sheriff's deputies being more visible within the park at all hours of the day; and 3) the great work done by FORP on the trails and trying to keep the park clean. I encourage everyone to keep up the good work.
Running Off the Unwanted
Speaking of safety, it is no secret that there are some individuals who come to the park with illegal and/or improper intentions. You know who I'm talking about! I have found that people who are in the park for improper purposes do not like for the legitimate users to talk to them; they would rather be invisible (except to those with whom they associate). I have started parking close to these individuals, speaking to them, and making them aware that we see them. THEY DO NOT LIKE IT. In fact, many have left the park after I parked near them or just said, "hello, how are you today." I encourage everyone to take measures such as these to discourage illegal or improper activities in the park. Always be polite and never do anything that would jeopordize your safety (or your manhood), but if we just say "hello" and let them know that we see them, I think they will eventually leave. My favorite is parking behind them and commenting on their car: "Nice car, I haven't seen one like that here before." or "I see you have Virginia tags, what brings you to our park here in Tennessee." They will not stick around, promise.
Chris
posted by Rotary Park | 9:39 AM
2 Comments:
Hello all. I am new to Clarksville, but love mountain biking and just recently found about the Rotary Park. I hope to become an active user of the park and I look forward to help maintaining the park and trails. Thanks for the work thats already been completed and I look forward to meeting ya'll soon
Jason
Hey everyone, a few days ago someone got done riding and left behind their front tire. I have it, left my # at the trailhead sign but no call yet. My email is jeepinfabes@yahoo so I can get your tire back to ya.
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