TRAIL TEAM
The Friends of Fort Worden Trail Team plays an valuable role in helping Fort Worden State Park to maintain and enhance the many trails and natural spaces found within the park. The group organizes work parties throughout the year to provide invasive plant control, trail maintenance, signage, and other special projects that enhance FWSP visitor experience.
John and Tom install trail wayfinding signage on Artillery Hill
Trail Maintenance
The Friends of Fort Worden Trail Team is a group of local volunteers who walk the trails at Fort Worden on a regular basis. The Trail Team helps steward the trails and beaches of Fort Worden by helping the Park Rangers communicate positive information with visitors, reporting maintenance issues to Park staff and collecting litter to keep our Park clean. Recently the Team has initiated an Adopt-a-Trail program in which team members independently perform regular light maintenance along their chosen trails.
Invasive Weed Control
Several times each year the Trail Team holds group work parties to repair trails or remove invasive vegetation. Significant progress has been made in reducing the impact of invasives such as Scotch broom, European dune grass, English ivy and English holly within the Park.
Trail Team Volunteers, Tom and Zan, revisit an area once cleared of Scotch Broom
Friends volunteer, Janine, installing planters to enhance the patio dining experience at TAPs at the Guardhouse.
Special Projects
Each year the Friends create a list of special projects that would in some way enhance the Fort Worden visitor experience. The Friends work closely with FWSP staff to ensure each project is a good fit for the park. Once approved a project leader is recruited and a budget approved.
Examples of projects the friends have undertaken include the creation of the Chinese Gardens Interpretive Trail, installation of free viewing telescopes, bicycle racks, water bottle filling stations, new trail wayfinding signs and many more. Check our Project Wishlist to see what we’re currently working on.