by Ed Lawrence, Trail Care Chair
“Your group’s work exceeded my expectations” was how Oil Creek State Park manager Dave Hallman characterized the varied accomplishments of the 14 participants who gathered under the KTA’s Code Orange banner on August 30. Besides the KTA contingent, 25 other people from the park area, including representatives of the park’s Friends group, local trail runners club, and cross-country ski enthusiasts, descended on the park for the Saturday work party. While these local volunteers worked on addressing water and erosion issues on sections the 36-mile Gerard Trail loop, the KTA crew was tasked with reclaiming an interconnected cluster of trails that had become overgrown and confusing.
From the trailhead just past the picnic pavilion at the Wildcat Hollow group tenting area, where KTA volunteers had pitched camp, Code Orange teams tackled a variety of needed improvements. Two seasoned painting crews consisting of Nan and Fred Koerner, along with Jenn Ulmer and Donna Thompson, reblazed the Wetland, Forestry, and Oil History Trails in a uniform manner, replacing a plethora of overlapping, befuddling paint marks. Ed Scurry ably led a crew consisting of Don Kirkwood, Dave Adams, and Joe Hardisky to the Geology Trail, where they spent the day digging sidehill to reset the trail in several areas where the treadway had become sloping and sketchy. Ken Horting, who rode his bike to the event, and Bill Dietrich formed a dynamic duo who aggressively addressed encroaching brush, while Keith Klos, wearing appropriate protective gear, used a chainsaw to clear the bigger wood. Tony Robbins and Ed Lawrence, who on Friday had run brushwhackers around the trails, devoted Saturday to cutting and nailing grip-enhancing pieces of shingle on the numerous boardwalks and bridges located throughout the trail system. They were assisted by Al Hough, who also plied a Pulaski to channel and redirect water away from the trail.
Everyone returned to the pavilion at noon for a pizza party, compliments of the Friends group, which the crew consumed with gratitude and gusto. Later that evening, many crew members reconvened in Titusville at the Blue Canoe brewpub for food, beverage, and continuing conviviality.
Note from Oil Creek State Park: “Kudos and many thanks to everyone who made the Code Orange Trail Work Day a huge success at Oil Creek State Park. Special thanks goes to Dave Hallman (park manager) and Joe Guthrie (maintenance supervisor) for organizing and leading the event. Thanks to the park staff for all the preparation work and for staff from neighboring parks for coming and bringing equipment and leading the groups. The KTA did a great job at Wild Cat Hollow, as did the many volunteers completed numerous French “burritos” on the Red (Girard) Trail. The “reroute” looks great, too! Pizza was supplied and delivered by the Friends and was much appreciated by the workers. Just goes to show what many hands can accomplish in a day. Many thanks and happy trails to all!”