Polk Trails Newsletter January 2022

STAFF UPDATE Parks and Recreation has merged with the Maintenance department to form the New Parks, Recreation and Maintenance Department.

Team from left to right: Randy Herring, Maintenance Tech Donny Ridings, Maintenance Tech Jeff Reid, Maintenance Coordinator Mickey Edwards, Director of Parks, Recreation and Maintenance Jason Jolley, Parks Coordinator Laura Baird, Recreation Coordinator

Mickey Edwards is the new Director of the Parks, Recreation and Maintenance Department. He was formerly the Maintenance department Director and brings with him years of experience.

Lourdes Gutierrez has joined the team as the Recreation Assistant. She will be handling social media and electronic communications for the department.

TRAILS COMMITTEE MEETING Every month, community stakeholders meet to share updates about area trails. The meetings are open to the public and will be in person this month! Send us your questions and updates ahead of time if you can't make it! Please note the location & time change: MONDAY January 24, 2022 06:00 PM @ Saluda Outfitters, 435 E Main Street, Saluda NC MIND YOUR MANNERS Most trails, if they are open, may not have public facilities that are open, so check ahead of time. If you are sick, PLEASE stay home. If a trail is crowded, please travel to a different spot so you can practice social distancing. Other trail courtesies also still apply: keep dogs on-leash, take your trash with you, etc. Thanks for doing your part!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES TUESDAY, February 1, 2-4 pm @ ICC/Library Loop Trail TUESDAY, February 15, 2-4 pm @ Rec Complex TUESDAY, February 22, 2-4 pm @ Tom Raymond Fitness Trail (meet @ Trailhead behind EMS) TUESDAY, March 1, 2-4 pm @ Alexander Ford  If you would like to help us with trail work, please contact recreation@polknc.org and we will let you know when additional workdays are scheduled. If you feel safer working on your own, feel free to walk a trail, picking up trash and moving small branches from the trails. Please don't cut any branches; if a trail needs more attention, email recreation@polknc.org and we will take care of it or bring it to that trail manager's attention. FOR MORE INFORMATION We manage trail work days, various partnerships and other trail-related initiatives in the county. The online calendar has been updated for the month of January check it out! E-Mail contact information for us: trails@polknc.org

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