News Release

2021 ACC Trail Crew

Thank you to our hard-working ACC Trail Crew!

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News Release Date: August 4, 2021

Contact: Elizabeth Parnicza, 434-352-8987 x227

Appomattox Court House National Historical Park Hosts Appalachian Conservation Corps Trail Repair Crew

Appomattox, Va. – Last fall, Appomattox Court House National Historical Park’s trails took heavy damage in multiple flooding incidents. This summer, the park hosted an Appalachian Conservation Corps Trail Repair Crew (ACC) to restore approximately one-half mile of the Southside Connector Trail. This six-person trail crew was in the park from July 19-27, and their work primarily included installing water diversion bars and filling in gullies to restore the trail surface. The crew also rerouted two sections of trail that the Appomattox River undermined.

This ACC trail crew hailed from across the country and worked on trail projects in West Virginia, Ohio, and Virginia. As a Corps program, ACC partners with public land managers like the National Park Service to identify, plan, and complete projects that improve public access, habitat quality, and economic development. Their hard work repaired the flooding damage and prepared the trail for future severe weather that causes runoff and erosion on trails, which climate change increases. Participants also participated in place-based learning activities focused on the pollinator habitat created in the park and the management of fields to protect grassland bird habitat. 

Appomattox Court House’s nearly ten miles of trails average about 15,000 trail uses per year, with about 3,000 of those uses on the Southside Connector Trail. Visitors and community members are encouraged to enjoy the variety of trails in the park providing opportunities for recreation and learning about the park’s natural and cultural resources. 

When recreating, the public should follow local area health orders and practice Leave No Trace principles.

Find tips for visiting during COVID-19 and the park’s current conditions and offerings at: https://www.nps.gov/apco/planyourvisit/conditions.htm.www.nps.gov

Two crew members carry materials for water diversion and erosion prevention on the trail.

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