Background: TRTC is a state chartered, non-profit organization that accomplishes much of it's work through volunteer efforts. While we do have a number of small grants to support trail building and maintenance, these funds generally are spent for equipment, supplies and for specialized services such as preparing site development plans. The on-the-ground efforts to build and improve trails is done almost exclusively by our volunteers. Since 1998, TRTC volunteers have put in over 7,500 hours in cleaning up, resurfacing and maintaining the American Tobacco Trail (ATT) in Durham, Chatham and Wake Counties. Most of this work has been done during our Saturday workdays although members of our Board and a few volunteers are also active during the week as their schedules allow. Our work varies in intensity; we often use shovels and rakes for moving dirt and rocks; we also have easier, less physical tasks such as pruning limbs and trash pick up on a frequent basis. We work year 'round but tend to use the cooler months for our chainsaw "parties". You can see loads of pictures from our workdays at PHOTOS5 and at PHOTOS 6-14.
How to Volunteer: Volunteering with TRTC is easy. Signing up for our Weekly Volunteers Email is the preferred way to find out where we will be working and the type of project. To add yourself to our Volunteers E-Mail list please click on the TRTC-Volunteers subscription page. TRTC maintains this Volunteers E-Mail list of people interested in our workdays. On Wednesday or Thursday preceding a workday, those on this list receive an E-Mail about the time and location of the upcoming workday.
If you need more information or want to discuss upcoming workdays or possible week day oportunities, feel free to contact one of the following Board members:
- Frank Bennett fjb675@hotmail.com or at 851-3992
- Curt Devereux cdever@yahoo.com or at 544-3948
- Bill Bussey billbus@gte.net or at 545-9104
In Durham County we have been working to improve a 3 mile, natural surface section of the ATT south of NC 54 since early 2001. Our planned efforts to improve the surface and drainage are largely complete but during 2005 TRTC agreed (with Durham Parks & Rec.) to continue maintenance of this segment until Parks & Rec. is funded for these tasks. Our trail maintenance efforts in Durham are expected to continue through 2009. Our most recent major effort in Durham was a new trailhead parking area where the ATT crosses Fayetteville Road. This has involved tearing down and removing a small house (see PHOTOS14 and, PHOTOS19) cutting and burning trees and brush, and in general preparing the area for grading. During the Fall of 2005 we completed efforts to grade the parking area, construct the connector trail and pour slabs for an information structure and porta-john. In the Winter and Spring of 2006 we focused on erecting the information shelter, installing control bollards and continuing general clean-up efforts of the site. During the Fall of 2006 we constructed water bars on the connecting trail and since then we continued periodic clean-up and trimming and constructed a brick patio in the area by the kiosk (See PHOTOS22 for pictures of our efforts).
In Chatham County TRTC has conducted over 45 workdays to cut and remove fallen trees and brush from ATT sections that were impassable and to correct minor drainage and surface problems during the 5+ years that this section was unofficially open for use. See PHOTOS12.
Our Workday Meeting Schedules:
In Durham
- For work on the trail we meet at the intersection of the ATT and Scott-King Road at 9:00AM.
- For work on the new trailhead we meet at the intersection of the ATT and Fayetteville Road at 9:00AM.
- Trailhead at O'Kelly Chapel Road at 9:00AM
- Trailhead at New Hope Church Road at 9:00AM
Please see our Directions Page for driving directions to these locations.