Joint workdays with Friends volunteers and state park employees not only make important trail improvements, but also symbolize a cooperative spirit that benefits all trail users.
Last March, an erosion ditch at mile marker 5.5 near Spring Valley had widened right up to the edge of the trail, presenting a hazard for trail users. It also presented an opportunity for the first Joint Workday for representatives from Friends of the Little Miami State Park and Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources park staff. On October 14, the blended team cut leaning trees, ran the ODNR backhoe, and dumped a load of stone and three loads of topsoil to correct the erosion.
The November Joint Workday corrected trail erosion and improved sight-lines at Wilmington Rd. and Oregonia Rd. intersections. The Friends and ODNR staff plan to choose a project each month for joint workdays. These projects improve communication and working relationships between the groups, as well as efficiently using resources to benefit the trail.
October Joint Workday
Before & After
