Sturbridge: The 11th annual area spring volunteer trail day will be held Saturday April 16th by the Town Trail Committees of Sturbridge, Southbridge and Brimfield along with the U. S. Army Corp of Engineers and the Grand Trunk Trail Blazers. Residents, youth and community service groups are all welcome to be a part of celebrating the arrival of spring, Earth Day, and being a part of improving our communities. Registration begins at 8:30 am and the work project will start at 9 am and continue through noon. Each Town has its own work sites and projects they are:
Brimfield: 207 Five Bridge Rd. Trail clean up and preparation for their 5K trail race on April 30th, along with trash and liter removal, loam raking and seeding along the recently completed section of trail out to RT 20, and spreading fine gravel. Tractor with buckets and small dump trucks are needed to support these projects.
Sturbridge: 10 Old Sturbridge Village Rd. Trail construction of the Arbutus Park trail, surface preparation and spreading fine gravel, bridge maintenance, brush clearing. Small tractors with buckets and dump trailers needed to support these projects.
Southbridge: Registration at Westville Recreation Area, trail work of improving and maintaining the West St school trail network. Spreading gravel, brush trimming and trail clearing are the scheduled projects.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: 125 Wallace Rd., Westville Recreation Area. Loam and seeding shoulders along the Grand Trunk Trail, shoulder repair and maintenance of the Community trail, and trash debris pickup after the recent high water are the scheduled projects.
Pre registration is requested to allow for proper planning of materials and supplies, as well as ordering enough pizza for lunch for all the volunteers. In case of heavy rain event will be postponed until April 23rd. Please dress for the weather, sturdy shoes, work gloves and a water bottle recommended. To preregister or for more information on trails or any questions contact:
Brimfield: Tony Bys at 413-245-9297, email at: tbys9297@charter.net
Sturbridge: Randy Redetzke at 508-344-9823 or email; rredet@charter.net
Southbridge: Ken Pickren at 508-765-6022, email at; kenpickren@charter.net
Corps: Park Ranger Tom Chamberland at 508-347-3705, email at; Thomas.a.chamberland@usace.army.mil
Grand Trunk Trail Blazers: Pat McGarrah at 508-347-3647, email at; pat.mcgarrah@charter.net
Last year over 60 volunteers participated, the trail committees are looking to better that number this year but need your help to do so. Thanks for volunteering!
Mary and I volunteered at Westville this past Saturday. Our assignment was to pick up / clean up along the west side of the river from the entrance to the park to the dam. A Tantasqua sophomore, Michaela, joined us, and the the three of us filled 4 trash bags with trash, old toys, bottles, and golf balls. Lots of golf balls. I don't know about Mary and Michaela, but I know I was a bit sore on Sunday. There were a lot of volunteers at Westville, and I am sure a lot more elsewhere along the trail system. Westville also had a slew of Cub Scouts that had also volunteered, and they were everywhere cleaning up the park. It's always good to give back. Got to do it more often.
ReplyDeleteI showed up for the OSV trail but about an hour late and was told they had over 50 volunteers so wouldn't really need me (I'll have to get there on time in June). Or maybe my DEP hat scared them off LOL. Won't wear it next time just in case.
ReplyDeleteBrian Friedmann