PTBA Legacy Trail Project

Black Bass Lake

Eureka Springs, AR

Thursday & Friday, March 25-26, 9 AM - 4 PM
Two day outdoor workshop
Location: Meet at the Inn of the Ozarks, Cedar Room for first day,

then carpool to the Outdoor Worksite.

The Legacy Trail Project

The First Annual Legacy Trail Project is an opportunity for the entire PTBA Membership to share our collective expertise through the design and build of a trail that benefits the local community in which we have our Annual Meeting. It is a one of a kind opportunity to get hands on experience planning, designing, discussing technique, and using the tools of our trade, in an atmosphere of shared learning, brainstorming and comradery!  The Legacy Project will be outdoors, rain or shine, from 9 am until around 4 pm, with a box lunch included. Evenings on these days will be reserved for Committee Working Meetings as well.

The Project Description

The 2010 PTBA Legacy Trail Project will create one of Eureka Springs’ most interesting trails. Located on Inn of the Ozarks and Eureka Springs City property, the trail will link Black Bass Lake, a remote city park with a land mark hotel and provide public trail access to the park and it’s current trail system.

Currently Black Bass Lake City Park is host to a 1.5 mile trail system that circles a small 5-acre lake that was once used as a city water supply. The stone-faced dam’s original structure dates to 1894 and is one of the oldest in the Ozarks. The park is also a hub for a Trails Interconnect Plan that will connect Black Bass Lake Park with Lake Leatherwood City Park and several other destinations throughout the area creating a 50+ mile system.

The land the Project traverses is not only scenic, but also is steeped in history. Limestone bluffs line nearly the entire Project. Existing historic trails and walls (including one 15 feet high and 40 feet long) beckon to be revisited. The trail route is also littered with rusty relics of times gone by. Faded slogans can still be seen on the some of the bluffs where make-shift businesses once flourished.

Black Bass Lake Park is located at an elevation of 200 feet down in a valley on the edge of the historic district. Users must currently utilize a very steep dirt road for trail and vehicle access to the park. The Project will connect the Hwy. 62 business and historic district with the park and increase pedestrian and bicycle access opportunities. The project will also create a stand-alone route that encircles the hotel grounds.

The Project Goals

New Trail Link: The majority of the trail link to the park will require several hundred feet of bench cut on 15-45% slopes. The soil is a mix of clay and gravel that offer a fantastic natural base for bench cuts… A perfect opportunity for machine work and easy hand grooming.

Trail Junction: The connection to the existing trails at Black Bass Lake offers the opportunity for some creative routing. A rolling crown switchback or two and some well-placed crib walls will be required. Abundant natural stone will make this project fun and easy for the rock workers eager to show off their skills. Our native field limestone and sandstone is much like working with building blocks, rather than the bowling balls many of you are used to using.

Existing Switchback Improvement: The existing trails at Black Bass Lake that will lead to the trail link traverse a set of 5 switchbacks. Although recently constructed and well designed, as with any steep switchbacks, there is always room for improvement.

New Corridor Clearing and Routing: The link trail will also feature a spur trail that traverses a contour around the tip of a ridge. The majority of the route is on a bench that is flanked by a continuous bluff-line. Existing historic trail routes and convenient topography will make this an easy corridor clear and sweep. The bench eventually dissolves leaving several hundred feet of trail requiring bench cut.

Future Planning: The spur trail will eventually reach Oil Springs and Oil Springs Road. This site will need a comprehensive plan developed to tackle a very challenging situation. Trailhead, boardwalk and or intensive rock work design will be needed to negotiate a spring drainage, road junction and rock garden. In addition, another spur trail will link the hotel and other historic trail remnants.

With a well-organized approach and lots of eager backs, the majority of this work should be achievable in the two-day stretch.

When and Where

Thursday & Friday March 25-26, 9 am - 4 pm.

Our group will meet 15 minutes before departure in the Cedar Room of the Inn of the Ozarks.  Transportation will be via car pool, please let us know if you will or will not have a vehicle at the conference.

Registration
There is no fee associated with this workshop.   Lunches are providec on both days.  Please let us know if you will be participating in any of the Legacy Project days when you register by indicating in the "INFO" product what your plans will be.

For More Information

For questions and more information regarding the project, contact; David Renko 479-422-7654
renkosweettrails@gmail.com