Parks and Recreation System Master Plan Update (2016) parks_and_recreation_system_master_plan_update_oct | Page 481

Trail Construction Option
Stepping stones
Optimal Construction Conditions
Ideal for water crossings in shallow streams to minimize silting
and provide a dry passage for Parks visitors along
walking/hiking trails.
Culvert bridge
Ideal for universally accessible/multi-use walking/hiking trails
with heavy traffic; culverts should be able to handle the largest
stream flow. In most cases, both the U.S. Corp of Engineers and
the Kentucky Department of Water must be notified during
design/planning phase.
Constructed bridge
Ideal for open water or wetlands along heavily used
walking/hiking trails; must be constructed to span the entire
width of the stream and is desirable for bridge to span the
adjacent flood plain. In most cases, both the U.S. Corp of
Engineers and the Kentucky Department of Water must be
notified during design/planning phase.
Boardwalks
Ideal for areas of wet soils or water along heavily used
walking/hiking trails that need to be universally accessible; will
allow surface water flow.
Floating boardwalks
Ideal for less accessible hiking/walking trails consisting of
hydric soils where there is a hardpan to build a floating
structure; very good for areas susceptible from flooding.
Table 11. Ecologically sensitive trail construction options (New Hampshire Department of
Resources and Economic Development, 2004).
Erosion Control Management Practice 4: Aim for all forest roads to be designed to minimize
erosion. Like trails, the banks around forest roads must be protected from soil erosion. Several
properties possess steep slopes in Metro Parks and Recreation, namely Jefferson Memorial
Forest, Iroquois Park, Waverly Park, and McNeely Lake Park. In these instances, new roads and
repairs to existing roads must be planned for with erosion in mind, i.e. avoid construction on
steep slopes. For existing roads and future roads that must be built on steep slopes, it is
imperative for Metro Parks and Recreation to employ such methods as erosion mats. Erosion
mats are a "machine-produced mat with a photo-degradable extruded plastic net over the top side
of the mat" (Grace et al, 1998: 385) which allows rain to infiltrate down into the mulch and
vegetation. Erosion mats were highly successful in the Talladega Nation Forest in Alabama,
creating a 98% reduction in cutslope sediment yield and an 88% reduction in fillslope sediment
yield (Grace et al, 1998).
Erosion Control Management Practice 5: Initiate a native plants campaign. Like other natural
resource concerns facing Metro Parks and Recreation, management of erosion control could be
benefited by the planting of native species as buffer zones around horse and hiking trails, forest
roads, and steep banks. Grace et al (1998) found to be twice as effective as exotic plant species in
mitigating against soil erosion along forest roads. Native plants are essential to stabilizing highly
erodible or disturbed trails and banks (New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic
Development, 2004). Planting native species along trails, roads, and banks will decrease the
likelihood of soil erosion.
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