trail clearing technique and tools

[ArlyA]

At some point Arly you just have to quit. People will notice then. At this point it’s become a burden to you and your wife.

But then we loose the only nearby location to hike and ski and let mutts run. I stated on the FB page that we are not receiving enough donations and ready to give it up and we did get many responses and a few donations. I told my spouse to not waste any more of her time writing for grants. 40 hours for the last one wasn't worth the "BIG thanks!" she got.

 

[ArlyA]

Here is the GFM page if anyone here would like to see us keeping these trails up.

 

[2manyrocks]

But then we loose the only nearby location to hike and ski and let mutts run. I stated on the FB page that we are not receiving enough donations and ready to give it up and we did get many responses and a few donations.

I may not be understanding this, but I'm getting the sense that the reason for not quitting is having access to a place to hike, ski, and let the dogs run. But it has become too expensive?

Here is recent posts to BRT's trail FB page.
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Folks, we've not been posting much due to the lack of user financial support. We asked for $60 this summer for that can of paint and did not receive any $$ for it.

I'd say people have no clue how many hours or how much cost is involved. If you want to ask for donations, my thought is to tell them how much it costs, what those costs are, and how many hours are needed to maintain the trails. Telling us one can of paint cost $60 is very specific. But perhaps telling people that it is not just $60 for a can of paint, but it's also other specific expenses and I'd name them.

My other thought is how many actually read your FB page versus how many just come out and use the trail that don't read it?

Perhaps cut back on the amount of trails you work on so you continue to have somewhere to take the mutts but you aren't spending as much time and money?

It starts getting into tax issues, but I suppose the landowner could charge an access fee from which to pay expenses, but that might cause the landowner to just decide that the trail is closed. And I don't know how you'd actually collect the fee from people who just show up anyway.

 

[IndyJay]

"Please help support our efforts to keep these trails maintained either by volunteering your time or by donating a few dollars to help defray the costs of supplies.
(url to GFM or FB)

 

[2manyrocks]

"Boundary Road Trails is free and open to the public for all seasons of silent sports - cross country skiing, snow shoeing, fat tire biking, mountain biking, hiking. Bring your furry friend - we're dog friendly!" Boundary Rd Trails

I'd say that people stop reading right after "Boundary Road Trails is free and open to the public."

Maybe the results would be different if it said, "Paid members only."

"Season passes 2023-2024 individuals $____, couples $ ____, family $_____" But there will be issues to address like whether to form a corporation/limited liability company and 501(c)(3) status plus whatever else there might be in Michigan. And someone has to deal with the paperwork.

Perhaps an intermediate step is to inform users that real donations are needed or otherwise paid memberships or closing of the trails may ensue.

 

[ultrarunner]

Here it was equestrians that kept trails open but when horses started to no longer be allowed those trails slowly returned to nature.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

I like the signage idea too. Something warning of impending trail maintenance stoppage with a number or FB page to contact for informaton.

 

[ArlyA]

We've been in this game for a while. Folks don't care what the machines cost or hours of work done out there. Nonetheless we will change the verbiage some on the FB page that my dearest put on there. Everyone has suggestions for more work, but to busy to help with it. That is marketing, grant writing etc, etc.

 

[ArlyA]

I'd guess no one here has ever went to your boy scouts and ask for help. I have.

 

[ultrarunner]

Back in the day when I was in scouts we were always found working on community projects…

The most popular were litter pick up on trails, tree planting and following up watering for 3 years in summer for each planted tree…

We were not allowed any power tools… only rakes, shovels and pack leaders had loppers and bow saws.

My troop and neighboring troops no longer exist… scouting not doing well in SF Bay Area and local governments passed motions not to affiliate with scouting… so no more school auditoriums for meetings or dockage for sea scouts.