Informational Seating Area on Rails to Trails

 

I.                   What? Building a Wooden Environmental  Informational Seating Area

A.    Seating for hikers and/or bikers passing by.

B.     Overhang for shade over the bench.

C.     Information board with Leave No Trace principles and information on the animals living in the area.

D.    Size 80” long x 70”wide

E.     Design like below except with Information Board in Middle and bench only on one side

 

 

 

 

II.                Where? Rails to Trails Area where a trash can is located.

A.    (Site A Possibility) area on other side of bridge where I caught my first snake. (See map)

1.      Advantages

1.      Near a bridge that has lots of neat environment.

2.      Has more pollution thrown off bridge.

2.      Disadvantages

1.      Ground is not level.

2.      More Vandalism in that area.

 

Site A

 

 

B.     (Site B Possibility)  area on the right side of bridge (going toward town)  on right side. (See Map)

1.      Advantages.

1.      The ground is more level.

2.      Not as likely for vandalism.

3.      Has a rule board next to it,

2.      Disadvantages

1.      It is not as close to where the litter problem is.

2.      The bench and trash can are further away from the path.

 

 (Site B)

 

 

 

III.             When?  Summer 2008

 

IV.             Why?

A.    I’ve loved rails to trails ever since I was six. I have seen affects of pollution around rails to trails. For instance, bottles, candy wrappers, bags, boxes, and many other things cover the ground and it is not picked up. This causes the stream next to the trail to clog and become unhealthy for the animals that use it as their home. I found an unhealthy Snapping turtle in polluted water, it looked almost dead because its home was not fit for it anymore. This project will help in these ways:

1.      To give people a broad understanding of what litter does to both our community and our environment.

2.      To give people a better understanding of the animals that live in rails to trails.

B.     To give by passers a shaded bench with information such as a map, animals in the area, and leave no trace principles. 

 

V.                How?

A.    Get an Architect to design the project.

B.     Get approval from the Easton Town Council and Mayor.

C.     Raise Financial Support (estimated cost $2000.00)

1.      Write letters to and visit businesses.

1.      Lowe’s (maybe lumber donation)

2.      Rotary Club.

3.      Elks Club.

4.      Personal Doctor.

5.      Downtown Businesses

6.      Easton Utilities

7.      Optimist Club

8.      Local Grocery Stores

2.      Write letters to friends and family.

 

VI.             Implementing the plan

A.    Set Date

B.     Have contactor (Kurt Herman advise what supplies are needed)

C.     Get supplies and have them delivered to building site.

D.    Recruit help from friends, family and boy scouts.

E.   Have contractor, Kurt Hermann advise and help with the building.