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by Ed Lawrence, KTA Trail Care Chair
Maurice K. Goddard State Park is named in honor of the visionary architect of Pennsylvania's state park system, and well-known for its marina and the paved bike trail that circles Lake Wilhelm. This was the site of the April 21, 2012 Keystone Trails Association's one-day Code Orange Trail Care, which was aimed at reclaiming and refurbishing the north-west end of the 'hiking only' Goddard-Mckeever Trail.
Despite waking up to a thermometer reading in the low 40's - and a steady drizzle - ten hearty volunteers, along with Park Manager William Wasser and two park staff, were able to make a significant dent in the day's planned "to do" list. While the Friends of Goddard State Park readied a lunch of soup and sandwiches, crews went about setting several directional and sign posts, benching a short steep slope, clearing the trail corridor, upgrading a creek crossing with walk across pavers and stone steps on either side and, generally, going toe-to-toe (and thorn to hand) with some voracious multiflora rose bushes.
After lunch, a crew led by Dave Myers installed three water bars to divert water off the trail on a section bogged down by a flow of seeps and springs. Special thanks from the KTA Trail Care Program to Mr. Myers, for coordinating this Code Orange event with the Park Manager and for doing some serious 'on the ground' preparation. Also, thank you to the Friends group for sponsoring the camping sites and lunch! The next Code Orange Trail Care will take place on July 28 at Laurel Hill State Park. For the full 2012 Trail Care and Trail Crew schedule, click here.
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