(article for The Oak Ridger by Liane B. Russell) How many cities are there that contain within their borders a secluded woodland trail, over 8 miles in length and honored by the dual designations of National and State Recreation Trail? The North Ridge Trail, now almost 25 years old, was a present to the citizens of Oak Ridge from TCWP (Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning), whose members developed it, got City Council to dedicate it, and worked for federal and state designations to help protect its status. TCWP¹s ulterior motive in developing the trail was to safeguard the publicly-owned greenbelts. Oak Ridgers had long counted these green oases among their blessings and took for granted that they would always remain there. In 1965, some residents learned otherwise, when they noticed surveying crews blazing the route for what was to be a 200 ft-wide swath for a powerline running along the entire length of the beautifully wooded northern greenbelt. These citizens mobilized an effort that eventually killed the proposal (and put the powerline on the Turnpike, which was already graced by other developments). Soon after TCWP was founded in 1966, these citizens suggested adding Oak Ridge greenbelt protection to the organization¹s other issues. The best safeguard for the greenbelts, they argued, was to build a strong constituency for their preservation, and that meant getting people acquainted with them. Thus, the idea of a trail was born. TCWP members explored the terrain and laid out an interesting and varied route, and when, in April 1969, city council gave unanimous approval to the trail¹s development by TCWP, all the planning had already been done. It was TCWP¹s philosophy that making the trail just wide enough to walk single-file would cause least disturbance to the land and give walkers a feeling of being close to nature. For the most part, the only tools used were lopping shears, spades, and hand saws. The trail runs the entire length of the northern greenbelt from Endicott Lane (eastern end) to Mississippi Avenue (western end), with additional accesses at intermediate points. It crosses two roads, Key Springs Road and Highway 62, but, except at these crossings and at the access trailheads, the walker sees few if any signs of civilization. In addition to the linear (though far from straight) trail, and connecting with it, there is also a 2-mile loop, the Delaware Trail, in the widest part of the northern greenbelt. It is just long enough, and just short enough, to provide a lovely outing after work, and its route exemplifies the variety of scenery found in the longer, linear trail. Winding through deciduous forests, it drops down to a spring-fed creek and returns up a narrow valley filled with mountain laurel, passing interesting rock ledges and a sink hole. The circular Delaware Trail is blazed in red, the main linear trail
in white, and the several access trails in blue. Keeping up the blazing,
and other trail maintenance, is performed by TCWP volunteers -- in recent
years, primarily Ken and Helen Warren. Occasionally, their efforts
are augmented by scout projects and by city crews, who have installed a
few wooden foot bridges.
As part of its effort to build a constituency for greenbelt protection, TCWP early on publicized the trail, and it is enjoyed not only by numerous individuals but by several organizations that sponsor outings on it. And a large greenbelt constituency has, in fact grown up. In 1976, for example, a real-estate group that wanted to develop a subdivision below the ridge, just outside city limits, tried to convince the city government to grant permission for a road through the northern greenbelt. It would have torn up the laurel-filled valley and the watercress springs on the Delaware Trail. In no time at all, 1976 signatures were gathered on a protesting petition; more names could easily have been obtained, but the number 1976 corresponded to the bicentennial year -- a good attention-getter. Our trail was one of the first to be designated a National Recreation Trail under the 1971 National Trails Act. The federal inspectors who came to see whether the trail qualified were so impressed, they went off to other cities encouraging them to follow the Oak Ridge example. TCWP undertook to maintain the trail for public use for at least 10 years; it has now done so for over 25. We would love to have additional volunteers for the effort. Contact us at 481-0286. Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning
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