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VALDOSTA, Ga. (WALB) - Volunteers are working to restore trails at Langdale Park after extensive hurricane damage left the area closed to the public for months.

Brianna Schawalder, lead for TRAILS4Valdosta, is organizing volunteer cleanup days this weekend to continue restoration work. The group is partnering with the Valdosta Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority.

“When I first arrived here in Valdosta, the community was pretty devastated by Hurricane Idalia,” Schawalder said. “I watched Hurricane Helene absolutely decimate this community.”

Schawalder said volunteers have opened nearly five miles of trails since beginning work on Jan. 30. The park reopened to individuals within 29 days of the initial assessment.

Weekend volunteer events planned

Cleanup work is scheduled for Saturday, March 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday, March 29, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Volunteers will work on clearing Trail B to restore access along the river and create a scenic viewing area for families. Tasks include dead tree and debris removal, path clearing and trail marking.

Participants should bring work gloves, safety glasses and their own tools or equipment, according to organizers.

“We really need volunteers to come out and assist us, especially this weekend [March 28-29],” Schawalder said. “Whether you have a chainsaw, or you just have limb trimmers, or you just have work gloves, and you’re willing to put a little sweat equity in, it means a lot to us.”

Community members answer call to volunteer

Russell Hassenstab said he heard community members saying Valdosta needed trails and there was nothing to do for adults or kids.

“That sparked my interest when I heard Brianna talking about she’s spearheading the reopening the trails after the storms and hurricanes that came through,” Hassenstab said.

Hassenstab said his business is already heavily involved in the community.

“We give so much back to our community, and this is another way of us to give back,” he said. “We want to be a part of the communities that we serve, and that’s the reason I volunteer.”

Hassenstab said the relationship between business and community is reciprocal.

“We would not be where we’re at today if it was not for our community supporting us,” he said. “So when they’re supporting us, it allows us to support our community. And it’s a hand-in-hand relationship.”

Jessica Catlett, communications and strategic initiatives director for VLPRA, said the collaboration has been successful.

“Brianna and Trails for Valdosta have really put in the work,” Catlett said. “It’s just been a really successful collaboration to see these trails come to life.”

Schawalder said early volunteer efforts drew primarily from Moody Air Force Base, but community participation has grown to 10 to 15 people per cleanup event.

“We have amazing people in this community and they deserve to be recognized for their work,” Schawalder said.

Organizers said all restoration work has been completed at no cost through volunteer labor and donated equipment.

Registration information is available at vlpra.com.

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