Volunteers spruce up Fairfield Loop Trail

Volunteers used some nice days in October to make repairs to portions of the Fairfield Loop Trail.

A group rebuilt the Loop Trail Bridge over the spillway of Pleasant Lake, first constructed in 1999 with the help of the local National Guard unit. Volunteers also added a penetrating stain to protect the wood from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

Volunteers who worked on the project included Kent Rice, Ed Malloy, Jim Scherman, A.J. Steiner, Dick Arnold, Brian Stains, Ken Malloy, Stephen Pedrick, David Cohen and

Kathy Peck. Assistance was provided by the Parks Department and local artist Judy Bales. All materials were purchased locally through contributions by Kent Rick and Kathy Peck, and the Jefferson County Trails Council.

Another project the volunteers worked on was giving a facelift to the Matkin Memorial Plaza, located just west of the Highway 1 Loop Trail Bridge. Volunteers stained all the elements of the plaza and eliminated unwanted graffiti. Those who helped on that project were Chris Hallinger, Jeff Fitz-Randolph, Ron Blair, and artist Judy Bales, with assistance once again from the Parks Department.

Materials were supplied through the contributions of the Jefferson County Trails Council and David and Marilyn Todt.

The plaza was named after William “Bill” Matkin, an engineer who designed about a half dozen of the Loop Trail bridges.