Volunteers Needed for Water Dog Lake Trail Work

Belmont residents are encouraged to join others in helping improve the trails at , an effort spurred recently by local mountain bike riders.

"Although it has been a group community effort, much of the work has been led recently by Patty Ciesla at ," Parks and Recreation Commissioner Kevin Sullivan said.

Sullivan said the improvements to the open space area have been going on for several years, but with the 's limited resources, it's vital that residents come out to help.

"We simply could not keep the trails open and safe without this volunteer effort," he said.

Volunteers are about two thirds finished with a new trail that will circle the lake.

"This trail is designed to be wider and flatter than many in the area so that moms with strollers, young and old and novice bikers have a trail they can more easily use," Sullivan said.

The trail will include three bridge crossings as well.

Sullivan said the work can be strenuous and volunteers generally need to be at least 14 years old. The Parks and Recreation Department provides the tools, gloves and guidance, and for those who feel they don't have much strength there are plenty of other ways to help, he said.

Volunteers meet at 9 a.m. on work days and generally stay until 2 p.m.

The upcoming days where volunteers are encouraged to help out are Feb. 26, March 6, March 12 and March 26.

Belmont Patch will attend one of the upcoming volunteer days to shoot a video. If you'd like to volunteer on the day of the shoot and be featured in the video, please e-mail laura.dudnick@patch.com.

For more information, see the flyer attached as a PDF.