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HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU! No doubt many of you are wondering what the Open Space Division does in the late fall and winter when the plants aren't growing. No, we don't hibernate or fly south for the winter. We do trail work! One of our major projects this year will be restoring social trails. Social trails are those unofficial dirt trails that are formed by the repeated hiking and biking of users over the same area. These trails have detrimental impacts to the environment and the Open Space Division will be restoring them to remedy these problems. Beginning this fall, restoration will begin on social trails at Aquarius Open Space and on the Hillside Open Space on the north side of Via Appia near the Recreation Center. We ask you to please stay on designated trails (made of concrete or gravel) as these restorations are very expensive and it can take up to five years for the vegetation to reestablish itself. Some of the problems that social trails cause are: · Flushing out wildlife in sensitive habitats such as wetlands and riparian corridors such as Coal Creek resulting in increased stress and sometimes the abandonment of nests; · Trampling vegetation, creating bare ground; · Compacting soil, causing soil erosion, and muddy puddles; · Widening trails caused when people sidestep muddy puddles; · Spreading weeds. What you can do to help prevent and reduce these problems: · Improve your health and take the long way by staying on designated Open Space trails (made of concrete or gravel) instead of taking shortcuts; · Release your inner child and walk or bike through those muddy spots instead of going around them; · Keep your dog on the trail and leashed to keep weed seeds from hitching a free ride in his fur. Thank you for helping us keep Louisville Open Space beautiful. Happy trails to you! For more information on responsible outdoor recreation, please visit http://www.lnt.org/programs/ principles.php.