April Polk Trails Newsletter
All April Workdays
for the Recreation Complex Trail have been cancelled.
Because of the governor's shelter-in-place order, we cannot organize trail workdays this month. Stay tuned for updates!
AmeriCorps Trail Coordinator Position NOW OPEN for 2020-2021 Service Year!
The Polk County Parks & Recreation Department was awarded another term of service from Conserving Carolina's Project Conserve. The position description can be found  HERE .
For more information on Project Conserve or to apply, visit the  Project Conserve website .

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March Trails Committee E-Meeting
  • Everyone was a good sport as we learned the Zoom platform and met remotely for the first time.
  • We discussed holding trail workdays in light of the COVID-19 recommendations, though in light of the stay-at-home order from the governor, it is now a moot point. We cannot hold organized workdays until the order is lifted.
  • Most area trails are open, though bathroom facilities are closed.
  • All local organized hikes have been cancelled. If you are interested in recording yourself on a hike, pointing out things of interest as you would guiding a hike, email lbaird@polknc.org. We can post these on the Trails website or Facebook page.
  • Rec Complex Trail: most of the remaining work is bench-cutting. We are looking into renting a machine for a weekend to aid with the hard work.
  • Alexander's Ford: the new trail put in by NPS looks great, with markers on the trees denoting the National Historic Trail. It is not officially open yet, but should be soon.
  • The ICC trail has been cleared of downed trees, (thanks Don and Mark!) but the Tom Raymond trail could use a trash pick up.
  • SCLT: the Youth Hike challenge can be completed on your own, since the community-led hikes have been suspended. Want to participate? Download the Activity Log HERE.
  • Melrose Mountain Climbing Park: the workday in March was a success, with 19 people attending, 12 from the French Broad River Academy. The workdays are usually the first Wednesday of every month.
  • Green River Gamelands Trails: nothing to report; the bathroom facilities are closed but the trails are open.
  • An outdoor classroom and picnic area will now be included in the LWOM PARTF grant, which will be submitted May 1. Updates to follow.
Pick up your copy of the...

Paddle Trail Guide
for the
Broad & Green River
Featuring:
-Access point and river information for the 1st, 2nd, and Main Broad & Green River
-Boating access information for Lake Lure, Lake Adger, Moss Lake & Lake Bowen
-Suggested trips
-Locally made with local knowledge

From the Polk County Parks & Recreation office!
(105 N. Peak St., Columbus, NC 28722)
The Next Trails Committee Meeting is scheduled for
April 27th.

Join Polk County Parks & Recreation to discuss current and future trails projects. Our next meeting will be held on Monday, April 27th at 6:00 pm. The meeting will take place from your comfiest spot in your house. Join in on Zoom:

Topic: Trails Committee Zoom Meeting
Time: Apr 27, 2020 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 457 308 8514

The limit is 40 minutes, so if we get cut off, just join back in by clicking the link again!!
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If you would like to have a photo featured on the Polk Trails Facebook page then email the image and include a short description.

Preferred content: In Polk County and on publicly accessible land.


Polk Trails regularly updates a calendar of outdoor events in the area.

  • Everything is cancelled for the next few months. When the governor's order is lifted, we will update the calendar accordingly.

Access can be found on our website or here .
The AmeriCorps Trails Coordinator works for Polk County Parks & Recreation through a grant from the  Polk County Community Foundation . The Trails Coordinator manages trail work days, various partnerships and other trail related initiatives in the county.
E-Mail contact information for us: trails@polknc.org
Visit the Polk Trails website and Facebook page below.

The Polk Trails website offers
  • Description, images, parking, and some maps for trail systems.
  • Events calendar.
  • Information on how to adopt-a-trail.
  • A Nature Navigators page (Polk County Middle School hiking club).
  • Links to maps and other resources.
  • Other general information.