Director of Land Management Budd Veverka and Preserve Steward Jean-Luc Plante worked super hard to create the nearly 1-mile loop trail, the Pond Trail, in Mianus River Gorge Preserve. Thanks to a number of volunteer groups and our summer interns, the trail, also known as the Yellow Trail, is now accessible from the existing Blue Trail (all MRGP trails start at the main parking lot and map shelter area).
Eagle Scout candidate Julia Oliver, 16, of Katonah, led scouts from Scouts BSA Troop 301 in constructing a section of the trail bordering the pond and moved a 400-pound locust log to build a bench that they placed at a picturesque viewing spot at the mid-way point of the trail.
Goldman Sachs TeamWorks volunteers spent a day out of the office to help build the trail. Twenty-one volunteers helped build steps, remove invasive species, and provide overall assistance with the project. Their collective help contributed more than 80 hours of work on the new trail.
The most difficult work involved building stone steps and bridges across four stream crossings, one wetland area, and through one stone wall. Rocks are a lot heavier than they look! Scouts and summer interns helped Budd and Jean-Luc move and place around 30 impossibly heavy stones using only a rock sling. Over 90 donors contributed to the land acquisition that preserves a small lake, beautiful woodlands, important wetlands, and vernal pools. We invite you to come visit Mianus River Gorge and check out the new Pond Trail (Yellow Trail) that highlights the beauty of this land. While you are enjoying the tranquility of the forest, please take a minute also to think about the hard work that went into being able to share it with you. Thank you!