via email (please forgive the formatting, as the blog doesn’t like this sort of copy paste)
This is awesome. The Crozet Trails Crew are one of the best parts of Crozet. Full Stop.
Trails in the Time of COVID – Share your Story
| Share What Crozet Trails Mean to You This Year It has been a delight to see so many out on the trails since the COVID lockdown began. Walking, running, biking, birding, catching frogs, and posting messages in the tunnel, Crozetians are doing it all whether alone or with family, friends, or a treasured pet. Our community is a special place. It feels even more so as we safely enjoy the outdoors and time together, even if it is 6’ apart! As the saying goes when life gives you lemons, make lemonade! The Trails Crew agreed it was prudent to cancel the annual 5K race. But that doesn’t mean we cannot stay connected. So we decided to create a storyboard to capture Crozetians’ experiences on the trails and parks to memorialize this unique time in our lives. We are asking you to share photos (selfies, families, pets, nature) taken on the Crozet trails and parks and to briefly answer the question “How have the trails eased your COVID experience?” The plan is to post the storyboard and comments on the Crozet Trails Crew website and to share it with local publications. If we receive a solid response, the Crozet Library has agreed to display the story board. We do need permission to print your pictures and comments. Please join in creating a Crozet trails storyboard by clicking on the link Trails in the Time of COVID which will guide you through the process of attaching pictures and comments about your experience on the trails. |
Annual 5K Race Canceled for 2020
As noted above, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have decided to forgo our annual fundraising event, the 5K race/run/walk on the Connector Trail in October. We are disappointed, as we were ready to enter our second decade of this event with some new ideas, but the trails will still be there next year — and so will we!
Unfortunately, the need for social distancing has also prevented us from dedicating the bridge to our winners of the 2019 race. We usually do this in May, but… well, is there anything usual about this year? Watch for an announcement as soon as we can arrange it.
Mid-Summer Cleanup Work Day:South Side of Crozet Connector Trail On Saturday, August 1, we will complete our summer maintenance pass of the Connector Trail along the southern side, from Nicolet Court to Jonna Street. We need to mow, use the string trimmers, and prune and lop that section. Given the heat, we will get an early start, meeting at 8:30 a.m. at the trail entrance on Nicolet Court in Westhall (directions below). Bring water, hat, bug spray, and sturdy shoes. Long pants, socks, and work gloves are recommended.
In order to keep us all safe and healthy, we will be following the guidelines in the box below, starting with the need to sign up in advance. Please click here to sign up with our form.
Directions: From Crozet Park, follow Park Rd. east into Westhall. After crossing Westhall Dr., turn right into Nicolet Ct. The trail entrance is on the left side of the street.
Keep Up the Good Work!
Since we haven’t been able to schedule as many work days as regularly, we have been depending on so many of our trail users to step up and help, on your own time, with keeping the trails in shape. I know that some of you make a habit of bringing a hand pruner on your walks to clip back some overgrowth. I know that others have brought out their own string trimmers and mowers to touch up the trails. And we have our “eyes on the trail” from neighbors in every area who drop me a note when they see something that needs attention. Thank you all! Because of you, our trails are standing up to the extra use they’re seeing this year.
We recently worked with Albemarle County Parks & Rec to lay down some gravel and rock dust on areas that are seeing extra wear. Keep walking and running over them — it helps tamp that new material down!
If you want to do some work on your own time, but need access to tools, drop me a message at [email protected] and we’ll do our best to arrange a loan. Our tools are stored at Crozet Park, so you would need to be able to transport them to and from there.
Monthly Meeting This Thursday, July 23
We will hold our monthly meeting on Thursday, July23, at 6:30-8:00 p.m. via Zoom. Everyone is welcome to be part of it! If you want to attend, drop me an email by clicking on this link. I will email the meeting link and the agenda sometime on Thursday.
At this meeting we will discuss work to be scheduled and the status of several new trail projects in Crozet.
Guidelines for Safe Work Days During the Pandemic
1. Work groups will be limited in size All groups will be limited to 10 people or fewer, depending on the space we will be working in. When we go out to prune and trim a trail, we’re able to spread out, so as many as 10 people may be OK. If we are working in a smaller space, the numbers will be smaller.
2. Everyone must sign up in advance
This allows us to control the size of groups, and to follow up with you in case contact tracing is needed. I will link to Sign Up Genius pages for each work day.
PLEASE: If you sign up and then have to cancel, remove your Sign Up so we have enough workers for every project!
3. Masks are required; work gloves are encouraged
We will need to wear masks when we are close together–I anticipate this will be when we gather to discuss the work to be done. Once we are spread out, and are not within a few feet of each other, masks can be removed. Please be aware of trail users, though, and make sure to step aside to allow space if people pass on the trail.
4. Tools will be cleaned with disinfectant wipes at the beginning and end of work, and when transferred between people. The Trails Crew doesn’t have an unlimited supply, so it would be great if you bring your own.
5. A hand washing station will be available with soap, water, and paper towels. If you can bring your own hand sanitizer, please do!
6. Social Distancing will be required.
More About the Crozet Trails Crew More about Crozet Trails, such as maps, current projects, and info about our annual 5K race, is available on our web site at CrozetTrailsCrew.org
Also: Follow us on Facebook
