TRAIL WORK / CLOSED SECTION ON DECKERS, Handmade Market, and Volunteer opportunities

[ERT - Mike Breiding]

fyi - mb
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Hi everyone, 

Busy weeks ahead!  Will be posting about all of these things if you want to share posts

1) Contractor is mobilizing on MONDAY and will be starting work on Deckers Resurfacing next week- Little Greer (mile 9) to Masontown (mile 13). Contractor resurfacing work will have TRAIL CLOSED in area so expecting closure to start TUESDAY.

2) Starting next week, we will have another contractor- MVR grading off the trail from McKinney Cave to Reedsville on Deckers Creek Rail-Trail ahead of resurfacing crew.  Make sure the operator sees you before going through a work zone. We hope to keep that stretch open until it starts getting resurfaced. 

Events on Saturday, April 18

Mon River Sweep hosted by WVU Water Institute and WVU OEDC. Clean-up on river bank and rail-trail.  Meet up under Westover Bridge in Hazel Ruby McQuain Park starting at 10am and ending at 3pm. Show up and help at any or entire time. 

Touch the Earth Festival from 1-4 PM at the Marilla Park Pavilion in Morgantown. Celebrate Earth Day with the Mon Valley Green Space Coalition. Learn more about regional greenway plans, listen to local music, and visit with wonderful non-profits, including Coopers Rock Foundation, Friends of Deckers Creek, West Virginia Land Trust, West Virginia Rivers Coalition, Monongahela Master Naturalists, Mountaineer Audubon, and MRTC. Have fun on a wildflower ID scavenger hunt with the WV SWV Sierra Club - Mon Group, see live birds from the Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia, and join a tree planting session and group hike with the Mon Valley Green Space Coalition. This year will have lots of science/nature activities for kids and the city of Morgantown lending tool trailer. 

Next Saturday, April 25- Please help spread the word, posts on FB

Handmade Market in the Wharf District (mile 10) from 12-5pm, shop, eat, craft, and enjoy listening to bands. Morgantown Adventure Outfitters to have free rentals of bikes and kayaks from 12-6pm  https://montrails.org/mrtc-handmade-market/

Recruiting volunteers for the Handmade Market, Saturday, April 25 on trail mile 10 in the Wharf District. Volunteer opportunities from 9AM-noon and at 5pm for the take down and clean out. Contact me at this email or 304-692-6782 if interested. 

In other places-

All Are Welcome to join the West Virginia Master Naturalists State Conference for some hands-on learning outside! Gain practical skills and enjoy a community curious about nature. July 24-26 at Camp Dawson Event Center in Preston County. Learn more- https://mnofwv.org/index.php/2026-conference/

Register here-https://pci.jotform.com/form/252198629790168

Hosted by Kanawha Valley and Monongahela Chapters of Master Naturalists

West Fork River Rail-Trail is closed near Shinnston as contractors work on a slip. This work is to continue for months, approximately 13 miles are open for use.

Ella Belling

Executive Director
Mon River Trails Conservancy
P.O. Box 282
Morgantown, WV 26507
http://montrails.org
304-692-6782