Description
Start Date-End Date: 09/09/2017-09/09/2017
Land Manager Office: City of Colorado Springs
Land Manager Contact: Sarah Bryarly
Funding Partner:
Programmatic Partner:
Summary: Help create a more connected trail system in Colorado Springs.
Description: About the Stewardship Site:
University Park Open Space is located in the heart of Colorado Springs, with easy access from all sides and views of the mountains and city. This work will continue the 2016 project that began the work of connecting the Austin Bluffs Trail to a series of other trails around University Park.
About the Volunteer Experience:
Work will consist of repairing and reconstructing a "social" trail (i.e., an unofficial trail that diverges from a designated trail) that emerged as the area grew in popularity. Tasks will be a mix of new trail construction and building various erosion control, drainage, and rock structures. There will up to 100 volunteers on this project, so it will be a great opportunity to meet people from all around the state! Lunch will be provided.
About the Overall Impact:
This project will create sustainable access to the UCCS campus and University Park from the adjoining neighborhoods -ultimately providing a variety of fantastic trail experiences. Work on this project will also help reduce the damage caused by water erosion and the negative impacts from the social trails that criss-cross the landscape.
NOTE:MINORS ON VOC PROJECTS
Youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult 21 years or older on single-day projects.
Latitude/Longitude: 38.908074, -104.798176
Additional Information:
Camping Available: No
Physical Difficulty: Moderate, Difficult
High Altitude Project: No
Desired Number of Volunteers: 75
Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 38
Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 3
Total Volunteer Days: 41
Total Unique Volunteers: 41
Total Volunteer Hours: 370
Staff Hours: 20
Stipend Hours: 0
Project Summary: An exceptionally warm day brought out the best from the roughly 41 volunteers that came out to volunteer at Austin Bluffs. Despite the high temperatures and lack of tree cover, volunteers were able to complete well over 150' of technical and physically demanding rock work. Several walls, ramps, and stone paving projects kept volunteers busy throughout the day. Everyone persevered through the hot and dry conditions, fueled by massive quantities of water and an abundance of delicious Firehouse Subs. As the day drew to a close everyone was able to walk the new trail and admire the new trail work as well as the work that was completed in 2016. Volunteers certainly can appreciate the amount of work that goes into the completeion of a new trail.
Successes and Challenges: Successes: Able to organize a good project with a large amount of technical rock work, abundant food, hydrated volunteers. \
Challenges: Competing with other organizations in Colorado Springs for volunteers on the same day resulted in a lower than usual turn out for the project.
Lessons Learned: Try and coordinate with other organizations in the area to promote work days, and reduce schedule conflicts.
Special Notes: Great group of people interested in working on local trails in Colorado Springs. We could be more involved with projects and land managers in this area.
Stewardship Education: Emphasis was made on reducing erosion in the area by creating trails that are user friendly and sustainably built.
Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: More volunteers needed!
Description of Accidents/Incidents: No accidents to be mentioned.
Description of Work Completed:
Details
| 14 and older |
