By Chris Basinger, Staff Writer
TRUSSVILLE, Ala.–Amateur arborists now have a new way of satisfying their curiosity while strolling along the Cahaba River Tree Trail.
Jean Cox explains the features of the new signs. Chris Basinger/Trussville Tribune
The Friends of Pinchgut Creek unveiled a new series of 22 educational signs installed along the 3/4 mile trail that aim to provide hikers with a way to learn more about the trees around them.
The group of volunteers developed the signs in partnership with the Cahaba River Society, Alabama Scenic River Trail, City of Trussville, Premier Fence of Birmingham, and others.
“It’s amazing how many people we see using this area,” said Jean Cox while standing alongside a towering Pignut Hickory.
“This is a perfect example of a healthy riparian forest and we really wanted to make this trail to help people understand how important our forests are for the health of our rivers.”
Each sign features pictures of a neighboring tree as well as a QR code that directs to a web page created by volunteers that has a detailed description of the tree as well as some interesting facts.
One of the new signs installed along the trail. Chris Basinger/Trussville Tribune
Some of the signs are directly mounted on the trees while others are on stands nearby.
This work is just the start of the Friends of Pinchgut Creek’s hopes for the area.
Cox said they eventually want the greenway to extend past Civitan Park and the Gateway Entertainment District and connect to Pinchgut Creek.
“This is just a tremendous resource for our community and for our area and we’re just very happy to have this continued development of the trail system and the parks system in Trussville,” said State Rep. Danny Garrett, who assisted in the project’s development.
“This is a gem so we’re excited about this.”
The trail is located across from the Trussville Covered Pickleball Facility parking lot at 4630 Riverbend Road.
