MANSFIELD — The B&O Bike Trail is in need of volunteers.
After last week’s storms that ripped through the Lexington area, Gorman Nature Center Director of Facilities and Land Management Kyle Bailey said he realized having a consistent team ready to go in times of need is essential.
“When we have downed trees, not just branches but actual trees, we don’t have a crew or the necessary means to get out there,” Bailey said.
He is seeking volunteers that are handy with a chainsaw for those scenarios, and volunteers that are handy with blowers come fall.
Richland County’s Park District, a staff of three, is comprised of the 130-acre Gorman Nature Center and the 18.4-mile Richland B&O Trail. Currently, the bike trail has eight volunteers that help out on a semi-regular basis, he said.
“But we’re always looking for volunteers,” Bailey said.
Terry White, a retired resident of Richland County and self-described avid bicyclist, has helped with maintenance for the last eight years.
“It’s a nice asset for the community as far as I’m concerned,” White said.
He said he went out to the bike trail to remove seven or eight trees that had fallen after the storm.
“You got 36 miles of trail to cut back and keep safe for individuals,” White said, noting both sides of the trail that need mowed. “We don’t need people hitting sticks and having an accident on the trail.”
Steve Reynolds is also retired and started volunteering around eight years ago. He said he tries to mow the trail once a week.
Bailey hopes the trail’s users realize the importance of keeping the trail in working order.
“I think some people just don’t realize were so short on staff. And there’s a lot of work that goes into making it look the way it does, that’s all by volunteers,” Bailey said. “It’s a nice asset to the community. I think some people might be hesitant to help out because they see it as a big commitment, but it’s whenever you can help out — what works for you.”
To learn more about how to volunteer, contact Bailey at 419-884-3764.
