Trail Talk
Rain on the Brain – by Clayton Gillette
Trail Talk – December 2020/January 2021
By the time you read this, I hope we’re seeing some moisture in our fall skies. I can’t complain about the balmy fall weather that kept my jacket, raincoat, and […]
New Jacksonville Woodlands Trail Maps Are Here – by Kandee McClain
It is hot off the press! The new and updated Jacksonville Woodlands Association’s (JWA) trail map is now available. At this time, the maps can be found at Woodlands trailheads and Jacksonville’s Visitor Center. In […]
Expanding Our Horizons – by Clayton Gillette
Trail Talk – November 2020
Fall finally comes to our woodland areas. Crunchy leaves give way to damp blankets of color beneath the naked stems, branches, and trunks of our deciduous brethren. Fungi again bravely venture […]
Hope Prevails – by Clayton Gillette
Trail Talk – October 2020
As we hope for the smoke to clear and the out-of-doors to become welcoming again after some fall rains, we are obligated to take stock of our climate crisis. “Mega-drought” feels […]
Making Tracks – by Clayton Gillette
Trail Talk – September 2020
“Leave only footprints; take only memories.” The hikers’ mantra played loudly in my subconscious on a recent walkabout far from our local trails. A quarter century ago, two motorcyclists ignored a […]
Improving Our Woodland Trails – by Clayton Gillette
Trail Talk – August 2020
Having recently spent some time running on trails farther afield, I am happy to report that our local trails are in tip-top shape. It is disappointing to see that so much […]
Summertime is Trail Time! – by Clayton Gillette
Trail Talk – July 2020
Summer is upon us. We can only hope for occasional rain to dampen our extreme fire season and keep the smoke from our skies. Dry, dusty conditions under a blazing sun […]
Are Horses Allowed in Forest Park? – by Max Woody, Public Works Director
This question comes up from time to time and the correct answer is…. not yet! The City of Jacksonville, the Forest Park Volunteers and some volunteers from local equestrian groups have been working for about […]
Honoring JWA’s Best
On June 13, members of the Jacksonville Woodlands Association gathered at the Beekman Arboretum to thank recently-retired members of its Board of Directors. Pictured here are Mark Burkhalter who served for 20 years, Skip Stokes […]
Our Wild Places – by Clayton Gillette
Trail Talk – June 2020
Living in a dynamic world, we’ve often been surprised by just how quickly our comfortable metaphoric rugs can be swept from underfoot. We are creatures of habit, and when our circumstances […]