National Trail Day is Saturday and Historic Rugby needs volunteers to help with the rerouting of Kellogg’s Loop Trail.
Ecologist Travis Bow said a bridge that was part of the trail washed away in a 2021 flood. Bow said the trail will route to the new bridge.
“There’s quite a few spots along the trail that we are not able to reroute with a machine,” Bow said. “It falls on a lot of hands, tools, and digging of the trail, and this weekend, the seventh, we will have plenty of tools available for anyone who wants to come out and help us.”
Bow said the new bridge will make water and erosion less of an issue in the future. Bow said rerouting the trail could allow the trail to be used for future plans.
“There’s some separate trail work taking place on Big South Fork to extend their John Muir Trail and the Sheltowee Trace Trail through Historic Rugby,” Bow said. “Eventually, those should all connect where this bridge will be utilized by that trail as well.”
Historic Rugby has $23,000 of the $30,000 required for the grant match for a $200,000 grant to construct the new bridge. Bow said Historic Rugby is also needing to reach the number of volunteer hours that the grant requires.
“Obviously, not everyone is able to contribute financially, but if you got an opportunity to volunteer some time, it’s a good way to help us reach that goal,” Bow said.
Bow said volunteers will also help line trains and clear invasive plants. Historic Rugby is encouraging everyone who wants to volunteer to bring gloves, work clothes, snacks, and drinks.
Volunteers will meet at the Historic Rugby Visitor Center at 9am. The trail work will last until noon.
