Wednesday, Jul 12, 2006
(FLAT ROCK, NC)-- The National Park Service and Project Challenge North Carolina, Inc., are teaming up to do important cleanup at Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site in Flat Rock. The work will be performed on July 18-20 on the Front Lake Trail. This trail is one-half mile long and travels around the Front Lake near the visitor parking lot on Little River Road. Following recent storms, downed branches and small trees were cleared from the trails so they could be quickly reopened. However, not all the debris was removed, remaining piled on the side of the trail. The Front Lake Trail is not accessible by vehicle making cleanup efforts more difficult and time consuming.
On Tuesday, July 18, a work crew from Project Challenge will hand carry debris from piles along the trail to sites on each side of the Front Lake. On Wednesday, July 19, park staff will chip the debris. On Thursday, July 20, a Project Challenge work crew will return to spread the chips on the trail.
The result of this work will be a more pleasing trail and an improved visitor experience. The park does not plan to close the Front Lake Trail during this work, but is very concerned about the safety of visitors and staff. Therefore, we are asking visitors to avoid the Front Lake Trail while signs are posted announcing work in progress. An alternate walking opportunity is the trail from the parking lot up the hill and along the front drive to the house, allowing continued access to the park’s trails. Maps of hiking trails are posted on the bulletin board at the contact station/restroom near the parking lot and available at the information and ticket desk in the ground floor of the Main House which is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., daily. If visitors must use the Front Lake Trail while work is in progress, please be cautious and alert for workers carrying limbs and spreading wood chips.
Project Challenge is a nonprofit, charitable organization dedicated to helping the youths of today become productive members of the community through court ordered community service, restitution, and wilderness adventure trips. Project Challenge is funded by the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) a state program that helps prevent juvenile crime. Project Challenge operates in 33 of the 100 North Carolina counties.
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site is located three miles south of Hendersonville off U.S. 225 on Little River Road. The park is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., daily, except Christmas Day. Scheduled guided tours of the home cost $5.00 each for adults and are free for those age 16 and under. The grounds are free of charge with hiking trails, a goat barn, picnic area and bookstore. For further information, please telephone 828-693-4178, or visit our website at www.nps.gov/carl.
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