Volunteers aid Prineville BLM on new trails

Dozens of volunteers took advantage of the beautiful day Saturday to help put the finishing touches on the Maston trail area west of Redmond.

The trail areas are part of the Cline Buttes Recreation Area, funded through a state parks grant.

All of the trails were built by volunteers, and on Saturday, several of them were getting a kiosk built and planting seeds.

Greg Currie, the landscape architect for the Prineville BLM, said he wants to thank the volunteers who have helped.

“I think projects are done better with volunteers, a lot more ideas,” Currie said. “The amount of enthusiasm and energy has been great.”

Several members from a variety of organizations helped with the finishing tasks.

The trail is open now and is great for hiking, mountain biking and equestrian riding.

Currie said the more people who hike the trials will help get them established.

Also helping out the trailswas a local Boy Scout and his troop.

Tanner Ensworth is working on becoming an Eagle Scout, and for his project, he decided to help the Forest Service install donated fire rings for the new North Barr campground off Highway 126 and Barr Road, west of Redmond.

The troop installed 15 new fire rings.

Ensworth said the idea started after his troop was involved in a minor fire mistake in the woods, which increased his awareness about fire safety.

“Let’s try to make it so we don’t have to try to have the fire department out here,” Ensworth said. “Lets space it out and make sure everything is done right, and that way it’s a safe area for everyone.”

Ensworth has used the recreation area before and says the project means a lot to him.

Along with the fire rings, the troop also cleaned up the camp sites by picking up any trash.