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Harold Parker State Forest has east and west sections that both
offer outstanding riding opportunities. The trails connecting
the two sides are limited to one through the campground and the
primary one following the Bay Circuit Trail across Jenkins Rd. and
through an old gravel pit and dump. The pit area, while
offering some fun, had become severely eroded, more rapidly than in
the past due to the increased popularity of HPSF as a biking
destination. This was a problem area that both park management
and our trail care program had chosen to ignore for some time, any
fix appearing to be very difficult. When HP supervisor Steve David
expressed concern about the area and interest in a solution, we
looked beyond some heroics to “harden” the original route. We
managed, with the help of the IMBA Trail Care Crew, to find a way
around the edge of the pit, a longer but more sustainable route.
Care was needed to avoid wetlands and minimize impact to abutting
residences.
On September 13, NSNEMBA completed the entire project with the
help of 25 volunteers. Without this huge turnout of hard
working folks, the work might have extended over several days.
A lot of different things were accomplished - closing several old
sections, rerouting some trail, installing signage, and establishing
the new route around the pit, which included much benchcut and a
crib wall.
Support from DCR was outstanding. Supervisor Steve David arrived
at the meeting location with a new DCR trail tool trailer. This was
the first use of this stash of equipment, which will be a real asset
on future volunteer workdays and projects undertaken by DCR staff.
We were also pleased to have working with us Barbara Buls, from the
Bureau of Ranger and Interpretive Services, and Ranger Kathy Ward.
Both DCR staff and our volunteers seemed to share a positive and
cooperative interest in project, which we can only hope to enjoy
again in the future.
As riders discover the trail routing changes made, we hope that
they will resist the urge to open up old trail sections and give the
new sections a chance to become established. Using the new,
more sustainable route will help insure continued access to the
great trails in Harold Parker SF.
- Dan Streeter, NSNEMBA Trail Projects Coordinator |
