by Ed Lawrence, Trail Care Chair
Oil Creek State Park will be rolling out the red carpet for KTA volunteers who come to the one-day Code Orange Trail Care on Saturday, August 30. Be sure to mark your calendar and plan on being there. Not only will participants be able to camp both Friday and Saturday nights in the park’s organized group tenting area, but Park Manager Dave Hallman is planning on throwing a pizza party for lunch on Saturday to express his appreciation to everyone who shows up to lend a hand in improving the park’s trail system.
If you’ve never been to Oil Creek State Park, located between Titusville and Oil City in the northwest quadrant of the state, this will be an excellent and exciting opportunity to do a bit of exploring as well as teaming up with local volunteers who, like KTA crews, are passionate about their public lands. The park has a well-regarded loop hiking trail around its scenic gorge, as well as a 10-mile bike trail that meanders along the creek. So, plan on coming early on Friday to hike and bike, set aside Saturday as a work day fueled by pizza and good company, and then take the excursion train ride on Sunday. Make the weekend a total experience and leave the park a better place for your having gathered under the Code Orange banner.
If this will be your first KTA Trail Care event, bravo, you will find it both enjoyable and rewarding, and you may even pick up some new knowledge, skills, and appreciation for how trails are built and maintained. Questions can be directed to the event leader and KTA Trail Care Chair Ed Lawrence using the contact information provided on the website here.