Jerry Fonshell - President GUMBO
[email protected]
Mission Statement
Our mission is to develop and maintain a world class trail system at Gunpowder Falls State Park. To provide a volunteer base of like minded users to maintain existing trails and to expand the trail system using modern trail building methods and sustainable design.
I have been a volunteer at GFSP and Rocks/Susquehanna State Park for over 25 years having attended numerous training workshops at SSP, GFSP, Patapsco State Park, as well as IMBA (International Mountain Bike Association) seminars. IMBA is an internationally recognized trail building and maintenance organization. I have worked extensively in GFSP over the last 15 years to the point that the core trail system is in optimal condition and experiencing a high volume of trail users. Walkers, Hikers, Dog walkers, Runners, Mountain Bikers, Equestrians and even wild life benefit from the work my dedicated associates and I perform at GFSP.
The core trail system from Kingsville Fields to Harford Road is in good shape, so we are focusing on the trails that have been lost or abandoned and fallen into disrepair. Some trails are lost due to poor trail design, inferior construction, downed trees, erosion and degradation as well as the lack of Park resources like capital and manpower. Our first project was to re-establish the trail from Harford Road to Bottom Road that was overgrown and invaded by Multi Flora Rose and Japanese Stilt Grass, some sections needed to be relocated out of the flood plain. 30 volunteers paid for and constructed a raised trail bed where the trail couldn’t be relocated.
To some casual observers, a trail might appear new when actually it is an existing trail that has been forgotten and neglected. Volunteers reopen derelict trails by clearing downed trees and debris, rebuilding the trail bed, bench cutting and cribbing where need. Some reopened sections are rerouted when an existing trail is deemed unsustainable or of poor design. These reroutes are designed and built in a professional workmanlike manner using the latest building techniques approved by the park management. We volunteers have invested our valuable time, energy and cost of materials to revitalize beleaguered areas of GFSP.
2023 IRS Form 990-N
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