Friends of Morrow Mountain State Park

November's Happy Volunteers and Park Staff, photo: Laura Krug

You don't have to be a member of Friends of Morrow Mountain State Park to volunteer to work on the Trails Saturday December 13th. Anyone can show up and gain the benefits of fresh air, exercise and teamwork.

Ranger J. R. Murr will be leading the team and he sends this message:

Plan on meeting in the park office parking lot at 9:00 a.m. and we will organize and disperse accordingly, depending on the number of workers we have. Various sections of bridle trail, as well as some emergency access routes will be the targets for this work day. I would like to prepare the sections of trail and access roads that will serve as fire control lines during prescribed burns planned for late December into the first quarter of 2015.

The tasks involved in this project will include: blowing or raking leaves from the trails and/or roads, trimming back limbs and vegetation protruding into the paths, cutting and removing any downed trees across the routes, as well as taking down any hazard or dead trees and snags that could potentially fall across these trails or roads. Leaf blowers, rakes, and pruning shears/poles/saws will be the basic tools needed for these tasks. Only personnel who have had state parks approved chainsaw training are allowed to operate chainsaws in the park, so I will have and operate a chainsaw for any larger trees that need to be felled or cut.

Please dress accordingly (long pants and sturdy shoes/boots). Bring your gloves, safety glasses, and ear plugs, as well as drinking water and snacks.

Thanks for your willingness to help, and I look forward to seeing you here on Saturday, December 13, 2014 at 9 am.