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Report from Alicia Norris, Park Operations 
Rocky Gap State Park
12500 Pleasant Valley Road N.E.
Flintstone, MD 21530 

 

At Rocky Gap State Park, the rain held off on National Public Lands Day until late in the afternoon.  Not only were we  able to complete our goals, but we also began work on a separate project.

 

We opened the event up to the public and ended up with 9 volunteers and 2 staff:

• 4 members of Boy Scout Troop 10,

• 3 actively participating parents,

• 2 members of the Volunteer Team Inc.,

• Hugh Boyd (our Recreation Trail Grant funded park employee); and,

• myself with my 2-year old boy on my back.  

We began working at 8:30 am on a section of the Lakeside Loop Trail that needed some benching and grading.  That project was quickly tackled in two hours. 

 

Lunch was provided by the Volunteer Team Inc. at one of our Camp Host sites. 

 

After the short break, we gathered our forces and transported volunteers to the opposite side of the park to begin work on a pirated trail in a popular hunting area.  The illegal trail destruction that afternoon was the favored project for everyone involved.  By 2pm, we covered approximately 1-1/2 miles of illegal trail. 

 

NPLD was a complete success this year. The volunteer crew helped Rocky Gap staff make the park safe in several ways:

• They graded an existing trail, prepping it for fall and winter activities. 

• They assisted staff in identifying a significant mountain bike trail located in a busy hunting area. 

• They volunteered approximately 72 man-hours hiding the illegal trail. 

I plan to continue organizing support for this event in the future. 

 

DNR Volunteer Spotlight Archives