Knox County Parks and Recreation, along with Mast General Store, are looking for volunteers to help repair trails and fences at House Mountain Park on Tuesday, Oct. 17.
The initiative is part of the county’s volunteer Adopt-A-Park program, which encourages businesses, organizations and neighborhood associations to assist in the general care and maintenance of county parks and greenways.
“House Mountain is an amazing state park and Knox County is so lucky to have it,” said Amber Barrett, a sales associate with Mast General Store, in a press release. “It is important to our company to help keep our adopted park beautiful, clean and safe for everyone to enjoy.”
Volunteers will help rebuild trail sections at the ½ mile and ¾ mile areas of the mountain’s trail. One project entails rebuilding a rock wall and step area on switchback # 2 and the other calls for fencing off an eroded section and re-establishing the original trail.
“The projects are two that were washed out because of early spring heavy rains,” Barrett said. “Volunteers can expect a labor-intensive day of installing wooden fence posts, moving rock and brush, and other mini-projects in order to make it a safer trail.”
Volunteers should sign up at Mast General Store, 402 S. Gay Street, by Oct. 13, although folks are welcome to show up on the work day. Volunteers should meet at the trail head at House Mountain, 9601 Hogskin Road, by 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 17 with work starting at 9 a.m. Bring a packed lunch, work gloves and closed-toe shoes for hiking and protection.
Info: Mike Donila, 865-215-6616, or Amber Barrett, 865-546-1336.