Spring cleanup for park trails

As Delaware's network of public trails expands, it takes more volunteers to help maintain them, said Rob Schroeder, who coordinated an effort Saturday to trim, clip and groom trails at Cape Henlopen State Park.

Saturday was National Trails Day and dozens of people came out to help with the initiative. National Trails Day events, from hikes to kayak trips along water trails to trail cleanups, were held at other locations throughout the state and nation.

But each month at Cape Henlopen, teams of volunteers form work parties to maintain the park trails, Schroeder said.

"The park doesn't have the resources to maintain all of the trails," he said. "There are more and more trails in the park all the time. That's one of the governor's initiatives. A group like ours, the Friends of Cape Henlopen State Park, is a great complement to what the park can do."

While the friends group provided the main contingent of volunteers, dozens of other people came out Saturday from high school students looking for volunteer hours to retirees who regularly use the park.

They planted native shrubbery, picked up trash on the beach, installed new benches, and pruned and clipped trails.

Quavir Scott came down from Wilmington because, he said, he was "just trying to help the community.

Kim Oliverio, of Lewes, brought her two children and one of their friends to help. The high-school-aged children were looking for community service hours but Oliverio said they are all regular park users.

"We love it," she said.

Linda Gaskill, president of Friends of Cape Henlopen State Park, said the trail cleanup was one of the first activities the group organized when they formed.

The joined in the National Trails Day about 15 years ago, she said.

The nationwide event is sponsored by the American Hiking Society and is always held the first Saturday in June.

"It's a great opportunity for members of the community to come out and learn about the park and clean up the park and make it wonderful for all the visitors we get every year," Gaskill said.

Reach Molly Murray at 463-3334 or mmurray@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @MollyMurraytnj.