Brush your boots before you hike? It’s good policy, and good trail hygiene, catching the spread of invasive weeds and seeds before they’re tromped all over trails and parks.
To that end, you’ll find new boot-brush stations at two island trailheads: Gazzam Lake Preserve (Deerpath Lane) and Blakely Harbor Park (3-T Road). Two more are on the way, at Grand Forest West (Miller Road) and another at Gazzam Lake (Marshall Road trailhead, this one an Eagle Scout project and also funded by a Parks & Trails Foundation grant).
“They’re exactly like what people might on their front porch to scrape mud off their boots before they head inside,” says Morgan Houk, volunteer program manager for Bainbridge Metro Parks. “They can be used coming in and out of trail systems to catch invasive weeds – especially in the wintertime, when we tend to be in and out of mud and we catch more invasive weed seeds in our boots, on our dogs, on our horses and bikes.
“This is our first step toward boot brushes at a lot of our trailheads.”
The boot brush stations were funded by a grant to the Park District through the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation’s Community Grants program. Applications for 2023 Community Grants will be taken Sept. 1-Oct. 1 (see www.biparksfoundation.org/grants).
“Trailhead boot brushes are a forward-thinking project, one we’re pleased to support with a Community Grant,” says Mary Meier, Parks & Trails Foundation executive director. “This really raises awareness of how we as users can inadvertently impact our parks and ecosystems, just doing something as natural as taking a walk on a trail. Spreading invasive weeds is all our problem, and this is a clever and thoughtful solution.”
Tansy ragwort, garlic mustard, herb Robert (aka Stinky Bob) – prominent names in the Rogues’ gallery of weeds plaguing Bainbridge Island parks and natural areas. Invasives all, their tiny seeds end up in boot and shoe treads to be carried along and spread by unwitting hikers.
Enter the trailhead boot brush. Each station includes a fixed pair of brushes above a grate and basin. Boot scrapings fall into the basin, where they’ll be collected for disposal.
The Park District chose Gazzam, Grand Forest and Blakely Harbor as popular parks with high-visibility trailheads. Scrape today, pull fewer weeds tomorrow.
“We as humans, with all the things that come with us like pets, spread invasive seeds the most along our trails system,” Houk says. “By catching as many of them as we can, we can reduce their spread.”
Community Grants now open – Got a great idea for a park or trail project? We want to hear from you! The Parks & Trails Foundation’s 2023 Community Grants cycle is now open at biparksfoundation.org/grants, with applications accepted Sept. 1-Oct. 1. Community Grants are awarded to capital improvement projects that enhance our parks, trails and recreational opportunities. For individuals or clubs that are not nonprofit organizations but want to apply, and need to partner with an agency, please contact Barb Trafton for assistance in working with Bainbridge Metro Parks.For more information, email barb@biparksfoundation.org.
