In August, about 50 volunteers assisted Larimer County Department of Natural Resources with building a new trail at Hermit Park Open Space.
With support from Larimer County staff, the volunteers constructed roughly 1,500 feet of trail over two days. Volunteers for the project consisted of groups from Larimer County, Overland Mountain Bike Club, Estes Park Cycling Coalition and Larimer County Horseman’s Association.
“The volunteers were a big help in building rock walls, pulling out tree stumps, giving insight into the multi-use trail, and bringing their passion and excitement for the new trail with them both days,” said Joel Schwab, trails and open lands project supervisor for Larimer County Department of Natural Resources. “Thank you also to Overland Mountain Bike Club for helping to fuel volunteers with breakfast and snacks for the hard days’ work.”
The volunteers worked on a new, roughly 6-mile, multi-use trail coming to Hermit Park Open Space. The trail is expected to be wrapped up in the next two years. It will connect the camping areas at the open space and include new trailheads for access.
“We look forward to working with all of the volunteers in the future,” Schwab said, “and thank them for their support of the new trail coming to Hermit Park.”
The project was a special volunteer opportunity organized for the 20th anniversary of the Help Preserve Open Spaces sales tax in 2016. Volunteer projects like this give the citizens of Larimer County a chance to get outside and get their hands dirty in support of lands conserved through the tax.
For more information on Help Preserve Open Spaces, visit www.larimer.org/openspaces20th/.
Photo credit: goco.org