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The James River Park System Staff and Richmond MORE will be conducting a trail building and maintenance class on Saturday, October 8 starting at 9 a.m. The morning session of the class will be held at the historic Pump House. Following a short break for lunch, the class will then continue to a section of trail which is […]

September 27, 2011; 6:17 AM • by Phil Riggan

The James River Park System Staff and Richmond MORE will be conducting a trail building and maintenance class on Saturday, October 8 starting at 9 a.m. The morning session of the class will be held at the historic Pump House.

Following a short break for lunch, the class will then continue to a section of trail which is slated for work. The afternoon session will end around 4 p.m.

Topics covered in this class will include the following:

• Sustainable trail design
• Basic Construction
• Turns, drainage, and bridges
• Trail re-routes
• Trail reclamation
• Rock Work
• Mechanized trail building vs. manual trail building
• Effective use of signage
• Political environment

The class will be taught by Nathan Burrell and Mike Burton of the James River Park System. Nathan, the James River Park System trails manager, brings a wealth of knowledge to urban trail building and has lectured at the state and national level on sustainable trail building in an urban environment.

Mike, a principal in Long Cane Trails LLC, is a professional trail builder who relocated to the Richmond area and is now on the staff of the James River Park System. Mike has extensive experience in urban trail building and mechanized trail building in particular. Go to Mike’s website at http://www.longcanetrails.com/portfolio.html  to see examples of his work.

September 27, 2011 6:17 AM 0