I got a behind-the-scenes look at the everything that goes into creating a new hiking trail the other day when I stopped by one of the Friends of Webster Trails’ Saturday workdays. These are held regularly during the summer and fall, a chance for volunteers to work on clearing trails, removing invasive species, and planting new trees.
This particular workday was being held at the relatively new State Rd. Preserve, located on the north side of State Rd. between Salt and Harris, just east of the Arbor Creek Townhomes. I got there rather late in the morning, after most of the volunteers had left, but was able to catch up with Ron Happ and Paul Della Pietra, who were still out on the trail. As we walked through the woods, around a large meadow and past a tranquil pond, they noted how many of the trails needed to be widened, others created, and at least one new bridge built.
The Friends of Webster Trails blazed the first trail through State Rd. Preserve about three years ago, shortly after the Town of Webster purchased the approximately 80-acre parcel from the Arbor Creek developer. Since then, the Friends have slowly been blazing and grooming new trails so they now measure more than a mile, taking hikers through peaceful woods and among abundant wildflowers.
The work party that Saturday had accomplished a lot, widening many of the paths, dragging a huge pile of trash to the roadside, and removing many of the stumps that threatened to trip up hikers. There’s still a lot to be done, though; Ron and Paul discussed adding even more trails to the system, where the bridge would be placed over the creek, and installing a bench near the pond. Eventually the preserve’s trails will be blazed and mapped.
There’s not much parking at the preserve yet. There’s talk of putting in a small gravel lot to accommodate a few cars, but right now, hikers can pull off onto the wide State Rd. shoulder. There’s not any signage yet, either. But don’t let either of those facts deter you. Just look for an opening in the woods on the north side of the road, and start exploring.
And if you like what you see, give thanks the Friends of Webster Trails, who have been working hard to bring this new trail system to Webster.
The Friends of Webster Trails (FWT) is a non-profit organization enthusiastically serving as the volunteer arm of the Webster Parks and Recreation Department. Since it was established in 1997, the Friends have built and currently maintain more than 20 miles of trails for hiking, cycling, running, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
The organization is completely volunteer driven and relies on donations and memberships to fulfill their mission of preserving the natural character of Webster’s open spaces. If you’re enjoying our tremendous trails, please think about joining the Friends. It’s just $10 for a single membership or $15 for a family. Check out the Friends of Webster Trails website, for more information.
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(posted 9/24/2023)
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