Enhancement Projects
Due to the success and popularity of the Adopt-A-Trail Program, the Greenways Advisory Board is offering individuals and organizations the chance to initiate and undertake a variety of trail enhancement projects. These initiatives offer opportunities for the public to improve sections of greenway trails for the benefit of all people, for all time.
Guidelines
To adopt a trail for enhancement, your group selects an approved project or projects from the enhancement list, and agrees to maintain the adopted trail section. A trail section must be adopted for a period of one year, renewable annually thereafter upon approval by the Adopt-a-Trail Program Coordinator.
You may choose any available trail section. Assignments are made on a first come, first served basis.
Minors under age 18 may participate in volunteer activities, however parents or guardians must sign a Youth Participation Release in addition to the Adopt-a-Trail Release Form. The minor must be accompanied by an adult on the trail workday. Adopt-A-Trail volunteers will choose the days and times you would like to work on your trail section.
Before each workday, please contact the Adopt-a-Trail Program Coordinator so you can pick-up your safety vests, gloves, trash bags, or any tools that may be required for your project (i.e., measuring wheel, rakes, mileage markers, etc). We will also arrange delivery and pick-up of trash/recycle receptacles at that time.
Benefits
Adopting a trail provides an opportunity for you to be actively involved in contributing to the beauty of our greenway system.
Helping to maintain and enhance the trails improves the resource for all to enjoy. Your group's involvement will create awareness of trail locations and other communications about Town greenway trails.
Enhancement Ideas
The Greenways Advisory Board offers several ideas for individuals or organizations interested in undertaking an enhancement project.
Butterfly Gardens
Butterfly gardens allow you to see the beautiful scales on the butterfly. Installing plants that butterflies like attracts them and encourages them to be around more often! If you or your community organization is interested in planting and installing a butterfly garden, contact the Greenways Advisory Board.
Beautification Projects
One reason our greenway trails are so popular is because they offer visitors the chance to reconnect with nature! All of our trails include beautiful flowers, majestic trees, and amazing landscaping. If you are interested in planting flowers or initiating a trail beautification project, contact the Greenways Advisory Board. Trails recommended for this type of project:
Sanford Creek - Golden Star Way
Smith Creek - Burlington Mills, Soccer Center, Heritage High School, Quail Crossings
Dunn Creek
Austin Creek
Kiwanis - Franklin Street to White Street
Rain Gardens
Rain gardens offer an effective means of keeping water from pooling on greenway trails. In fact, installing a rain garden on silty soil can hold the water for 1-2 days.
If you would be interested in installing a rain garden, contact the Greenways Advisory Board. Trails recommended for this type of project:
Sanford Creek - Golden Star Way
Smith Creek - Burlington Mills
Richland Creek - Wake Forest Rolesville High School
Dunn Creek - Heritage Green Drive
Trail Head Signage/Kiosk
As you drive up to the park, you see the amazing trail head signage to identify what trail you are about to discover! The trails below don't have these yet, but it would be a neat adventure to create one! If you are interested in this, please contact the Greenway Committee. Trails recommended for this type of project:
Sanford Creek - Golden Star Way
Smith Creek - Burlington Mills, Soccer Center, Heritage High School, Quail Crossings
Dunn Creek - Heritage Greens Drive
Austin Creek
Bat Boxes
There are 16 known species of bats in North Carolina. These creatures help us get rid of the night-time critters. Did you know bats can eat 500 to 1,000 mosquitoes per hour? Along some trails there are bat boxes for our bats to live, but there are still many trails that need volunteers to help build more bat houses. It's a great project to undertake with the whole family! Trails recommended for this type of project:
Sanford Creek
Smith Creek - Burlington Mills, Soccer Center, Heritage High School, Quail Crossings
Dunn Creek - NC 98 to Soccer Center, Richland Creek
Old Mill Stream - Kiwanis - Franklin Street to White Street
Bird Houses
Having birds around the trails brings excitement. The birds will stay only if volunteers will help build bird houses for the following trails:
Sanford Creek
Dunn Creek - NC 98 to Soccer Center
Richland Creek - Old Mill Stream, Joyner Park
Kiwanis - Franklin Street to White Street
Quarter-Mile Markers
A nice way to know how far you have walked is by having mile markers every quarter-of-a-mile along the trail.
Austin Creek
Smith Creek - Burlington Mills, Soccer Center, Heritage High School, Quail Crossings, Dunn Creek - NC 98 to Soccer Center
Sanford Creek
Richland Creek - Old Mill Stream
Joyner
Kiwanis - Franklin Street to White Street
Spring Branch - Miller Park
Plant/Tree Identification Signs
Notice the beautiful flowers along the trails? Smell a flower and wonder what kind it is? If it doesn't have an identification sign, then you may never know. Trails recommended for this type of project:
Joyner - Wooded loop, Soft trail
Smith Creek - Heritage High School, Soccer Center, Burlington Mills Road
Dunn Creek
Sanford Creek
Richland Creek - Old Mill Stream
Kiwanis
Soft Trail
In these parks there is something different than just the pavement. Soft trails have been designed for off the trails below. Help create a little adventure by adding these bumpy soil trails. Please contact the Greenway Committee to help! Trails recommended for this type of project:
Joyner
Smith Creek - Heritage High School, Burlington Mills North To Heritage High School, Jones Dairy to Sanford Creek
Trail Art
Trail Art makes our trails even more spectacular! All Wake Forest greenways could use a little art! Trails recommended for this type of project:
Austin Creek
Smith Creek - Burlington Mills Road To Neuse, Soccer Center, Heritage High School, Quail Crossings
Dunn Creek - NC 98 to Soccer Center, Sanford Creek
Richland Creek - Old Mill Stream
Joyner