Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail is a volunteer group that’s worked tirelessly to maintain and improve one of the region’s most beautiful trails and the National Park Service (NPS) recently recognized the group for those efforts.
The group took home the National Park Service Impact Award: Team Category in the NPS’ Excellence in Volunteerism Awards.
“The Excellence in Volunteerism Awards are given annually to National Park Service volunteers who demonstrate exceptional dedication to their park and community,” the NPS said. “These recipients embody the values of service, engagement, and stewardship fundamental to our national parks.”
According to the award:
In 2020, Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail partnered with the George Washington Memorial Parkway to address trail maintenance issues highlighted in the park’s Mount Vernon Trail Corridor Study, aiming to enhance user safety and experience. Since October 2020, the team has organized 191 volunteer events, engaging 3,381 volunteers who collectively contributed 8,550 hours to trail improvement efforts. In 2023 alone, the all-volunteer group hosted 61 events, with 1,465 volunteers dedicating 3,551 hours, resulting in the completion of 864 trail enhancements, including the removal of 348 trail bumps.
Friends of Mount Vernon Trail focuses on three core pillars: trail maintenance, resource protection, and resource appreciation. Trail maintenance activities are geared toward ensuring a safe experience for the millions of annual Mount Vernon Trail users, encompassing tasks such as trail bump removal, pothole repair, bridge board replacement, pressure washing, trail edging, and vegetation trimming. In response to major storms, the team swiftly mobilizes volunteer teams to address storm damage and clear ice patches.
The team is also committed to safeguarding the park’s future by combatting invasive vegetation like bush honeysuckle and kudzu. Additionally, the group promotes appreciation and access to natural resources through events such as Bat and Firefly Walks. Employing an entrepreneurial and adaptive approach, the group utilizes a kanban board to document, track, and organize trail maintenance issues, alongside fundraising efforts to invest in the park’s future. Furthermore, the team employs two cargo bikes and trailers to transport equipment to remote trail locations, ensuring efficient operations.
