Big South Fork Credits Volunteers For Upkeep

A new 40-foot bridge at Big South Fork Park the work of a volunteer group that has helped maintain the park since it first opened.

The group of volunteers help conserve the habitat and the very popular trails. Big South Fork Chief of Interpretation and Education Christopher Derman said the trails within the park are very popular for tourists.

“If it were not for the volunteers we would have a very difficult time keeping that expansive trail network open and ready to go for the million or so visitors who come and visit us on an annual basis,” Derman said.

Some 75 volunteers recently built the bridge at Yahoo Falls. They also do cleaning and other much-needed work.

“We do have a small but mighty paid trails crew in the park,” Derman said. “But without the dedicated assistance from the many volunteers who live nearby and come from the surrounding area to assist us, it would be incredibly difficult to get the job done, this is a bridge we have been wanting to build for a little while now.”

Derman said the volunteers consist of individuals and other volunteer groups.

“Some were individual volunteers,” Derman said. “And others were part of organized volunteer groups and associations that come out on a fairly regular basis and help out the park with a variety of projects.”

The park is celebrating its 50th anniversary and the park has had volunteers since it opened.