Description
Start Date-End Date: 09/30/2017-09/30/2017
Land Manager Office: CPW - Roxborough State Park
Land Manager Contact: Benjamin Plankis
Funding Partner:
Programmatic Partner:
Summary: This project takes place in a National Natural Landmark and is perfect for volunteers of all skill levels and abilities to celebrate National Public Lands Day!
Description: About the Stewardship Site:
Roxborough State Park carries the esteemed designation of a Colorado Natural Area and a National Natural Landmark for good reason. The 4,000-acre park, nestled against the foothills south of Littleton, is comprised of stunning red rock formations, unique plant communities and a wide range of wildlife. The approximately 100,000 annual visitors can take in all of Roxborough's beauty from a variety of different access trails.
About the Volunteer Experience:
Volunteers will construct more than 2,600 feet of basic trail, which begins at the road and passes through a small meadow. You'll build a short bridge to cross a drainage, as well as rock steps and retaining walls along the trail. This project is perfect for all levels of fitness and abilities, and its convenient Front Range location makes for a quiet escape from the sounds of the city. This project has a maximum of 75 participants, so if you are looking to meet new people from all over the state, this project is right for you! A delicious breakfast and lunch will be provided.
About the Overall Impact:
The construction of this trail will provide access to a scenic viewing area and waterfall that is currently inaccessible. Further, the specific section of trail will eventually serve as an access point to a larger route, which will create a loop for users to enjoy expansive views of the park and the Front Range.
Latitude/Longitude: 39.41561, -105.060986
Additional Information:
Camping Available: No
Physical Difficulty: Easy, Moderate
High Altitude Project: No
Desired Number of Volunteers: 60
Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 76
Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 4
Total Volunteer Days: 80
Total Unique Volunteers: 80
Total Volunteer Hours: 766
Staff Hours: 43
Stipend Hours: 0
Project Summary: This was a beautiful project to host in celebration of Public National Lands Day. The project site was very scenic and set back off county road 5 within the park, so we had the place all to ourselves.
Preparing for the project a couple of concerns came up with the work priorities, mostly surrounding the amount of work being added on to the project and our ability to complete the complex bridge the park was requesting. To resolve this issue I decided to increase the project capacity so we could have more volunteers to work on the trail component while also being able to have a sizeable crew tackle the bridge. I enlisted Jake Isaacson who has built identical bridges for Roxborough with VOC and he joined me on the site visit to communicate his needs and how the park can best prep the site in order to accomplish the bridge in one day.
Project day rolled around and it was a beautiful fall day, after a long week of wet, chilly weather. As I pulled up to the gated county road I found it to be lock, which was surprising because Todd (CPW) said he would lock it open and it wouldn't be an issue. Luckily I had a few other CPW contacts in my phone for the project so I was able to call them and get the code relatively quickly. Once we got in and pulled up to the work site we had to do a little rearranging in order to fit the camp tent and all the tools in the turn out. The crusher fines and bridge materials took up a little more space than I has anticipated. Due to our late arrival and having to move some stuff around we were a little behind in getting everything set up, but we had enough help to make up time and managed to get everything set up by 7:15.
We were lucky enough to have 10 CLs signed on to the project, which was great because we had a wide variety of work tasks to complete. We made sure to assign all tasks during the CL meeting and go over the unusual logistics of having to radio down custom timber orders for the steps, which would be cut at the trail head and a few other things like that. Having 10 radios for this one proved to be very helpful.
Jake grabbed some of the more experienced volunteers to get started on the Bridge projects since it was going to be a lot of work for one day. I welcomed the group and then Terry and I broke down crews by assignments and got everyone headed to their section.
Overall the work went off without a hitch. The bridge project got finished early, we had enough crusher for the 420ft section, and all the timber steps got installed. Although we had a great turn out of volunteers which helped accomplish this, we had an equal number of volunteers leave early which was a little problematic for some groups. We were able to move volunteers around a bit to mitigate that concern, but it is always a little demoralizing for volunteers who are working hard to see others leaving when they please.
Robyn the crew chef put together a really nice afternoon happy hour snack spread, which was a great way to reward all those who stuck it out through till the end.
I think the key to this project being so successful was the constant communication between CPW, Terry, Jake and myself. There was a lot of prep to do and many materials that needed to be order so we were constantly in touch about where we were at in the process to make sure things went smoothly project day.
Successes and Challenges: Successes
Great turn volunteer turn out
CPW/Terry did a great job of prepping to ensure all work was able to be completed
Jake Isaacson did a great job of pushing his team to finish the bridgeahead oftime!
Beautiful day out
Public Lands Day! Coupons for free entry into parks passed out
Challenges
The access gate wasn't open when we arrived, which we planned on with the land manager
Set up ran a little late due to getting in late, but we still got started on time
Poison Ivy
Volunteers leaving early
Lessons Learned: Even if you arrange for a gate to be open in advance with the land manager, that often does not happen. Have a back up plan :)
Special Notes:
Stewardship Education: N/A
Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers:
Description of Accidents/Incidents: N/A
Description of Work Completed:
Details
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