The newly updated version is a two-sided, four color map with details of the trails in both the Slagle Hollow and Trinkle Hollow areas superimposed on the USGS topographic quadrangle.  Ken Marion and Kevin Elam worked hard to assure the accuracy and usefulness of this new edition.  The original “Trails of Steele Creek Park” map was made possible thanks to countless hours of work by Ken Marion and Kevin Hamed. 

Our sincere thanks go to the financial supporters of this project:  Arby's Restaurants, the City of Bristol TN Department of Leisure Services, Piney Flats Bicycles and Fitness, Mountain Sports, Ltd., Boyd's Bicycle Shop, and Wellness Way Chiropractic.

Maps are available at the Nature Center and from our various sponsors, free of charge.  However, donations from anyone who finds the map helpful would be greatly appreciated.
 
 

In late 2001, we finished construction of a much-needed bridge spanning a wet weather creek on the Lake Ridge Trail, near the dam.  Spanning almost 90' from end to end, it includes over 2000 board feet of treated lumber, almost 200 pounds of galvanized nails, bolts, washers, nuts and joist hangers, 12 utility posts, and 1920 pounds of concrete.  All of these materials were hand carried up the forty-foot high dam and almost half a mile back to the construction site.  This was quite a feat in itself!

The bridge was made possible by a matching grant of $2500 from the Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation.  Construction volunteers included members of the Northeast Tennessee Mountain Bike Association, Community Service Volunteers, and AMERICORPS / APPALACHIA CARES Volunteers of Northeast Tennessee, in addition to dedicated Friends members.  Thanks also go to Bristol Tennessee Electric System for donation of the utility poles, and to Arby’s for donation of food for the hungry workers!
 
 

In 2002 we completed a major improvement of the herb and wildflower gardens immediately behind the Nature Center. With the support of a $500 grant from the Sam’s Club/Wal-Mart Foundation, a wheel-chair accessible ramp was added to the existing decking across the back of the Center. Prior to completion of this project, the area was often too wet and muddy to walk through, and impossible for wheelchairs. With the addition of the ramp and gravel placed on the walkway, the gardens are now handicap accessible and visually much more pleasing. The work for this project was accomplished with generous assistance from Virginia High School EMH students and River’s Way, in addition to many hours of volunteer labor from Friends members. Thanks to everyone involved!
 
 

Thanks to another generous grant of almost $2,400 from the Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation, in 2003 we installed new signs marking the trails in the Trinkle Hollow area of the park.  Eight new signposts have been placed at trailheads and key trail intersections throughout this section of the park.  Along with the new signs, the trails in this section of the park have recently been re-blazed, thanks in large part to the help of Boy Scout troop 15, under the direction of Allan Marshall. To make the signs more user-friendly, the colors of the trail names on the signs are consistent with the colors of the trail blazes.

We hope to continue this project in 2005 with the installation of signs and re-blazing of all of the trails on the Slagle Hollow side of the park.  This will require almost twice the number of signs as the current project, and more than twice the labor.  Our ability to accomplish this will be entirely dependent on the support we receive from folks like you.  If you are interested in helping with donations of either money or labor, please let us hear from you.  We can’t do it without you!

FOX RIDGE TRAIL REDEVELOPMENT

Fox Ridge Trail, shown on our newly published trail map, was one of our Park’s most scenic trails.  Unfortunately, housing development along the Park’s southeastern boundary several years ago obliterated the existing trail near its connection with the Powerline Trail.  The remainder of the trail quickly deteriorated due to neglect and a lack of use by walkers.

Thanks to help from many folks, this trail is once again usable.  Relocation of the upper part of the trail was completed in 2003, thanks in large part to Chris Ctuynn and members of Boy Scout Troop 8.  (Chris took this on as his Eagle Scout project.)  The remainder of the trail work was accomplished over the course of several weekends by city workers and Friends volunteers.