Athens Conservancy announces that it has received generous funding from the Athens County Foundation as part of the foundation’s Fall Grant Cycle. The $6,370 grant will support the Conservancy’s project titled “Nature For All,” which will enhance awareness, accessibility, and wayfinding of its nature preserves and trails.
The Nature For All project focuses on two adjacent preserves just east of Athens, Baker Preserve and Canaan Preserve. Foot trails in those heavily forested preserves form an interconnected system that links with other trails in the Strouds Run area system, providing countless opportunities for local residents and visitors of all ages to explore and enjoy the outdoors.
Athens Conservancy foot trails in these preserves include the new John Knouse Trail in Canaan Preserve, and Liars Ridge Trail and Mythical Tree Trail in Baker Preserve. The foot trails provide peaceful, natural spaces for pursuits such as hiking, trail running, exploring with kids, birdwatching, and places to simply relax and breathe deeply in nature.
Funding will ensure that trails are easy and safe to navigate through enhanced management and maintenance. It will also help improve wayfinding with upgraded navigational trail maps for recreational users, and expanded trail signage to clearly point the way. A new addition will be “Hiking 101” tips to be posted in trailhead kiosks, which will include a QR code linking to regularly updated hiking information and educational tips.
Athens Conservancy is a nonprofit land trust that preserves wild and scenic places for people to explore and enjoy, protects water quality, and maintains healthy, resilient ecosystems that support native biodiversity and help counteract the cause of climate change. Our nature preserves and conservation easements encompass nearly 3,000 acres, with nearly 2,000 acres open to the public to explore. For more information on Athens Conservancy, visit our website and Facebook page.
The Athens County Foundation is a community foundation conceived and supported by Athens County residents. It enhances the quality of life for the people of our region through building endowments, awarding grants, and providing leadership on key community issues now and for generations to come.