In mid-August, Five Valleys staff and a crew of hard-working volunteers worked to make the new Lincoln Community River Park even more accessible to the public by completing several cleanup and construction projects on the site.
Volunteers met us at the park on a smokey Wednesday to mow trails, clear the parking area and build a low fence around it, remove old barbed wire fencing and pull noxious weeds. A DNRC fire crew, on call due to heavy wildfire activity in the area, came by the help dig post holes and install fencing in the morning--a fence sure goes up fast when a firefighting crew is involved! In all, nearly 20 volunteers helped to prepare the park for increased public use and for our upcoming Grand Opening Celebration.
Two families accessed the river through the park while construction was in process, a rewarding sight for everyone involved. Yet, the most rewarding part of the workday for Five Valleys staff was the enthusiasm and ownership the community members had towards the brand-new park. Many of them had been pulling weeds or mowing trails all summer, on their own (but with Five Valleys' blessing).
