Volunteers Build a Bridge at Johnston Mill Nature Preserve

In 2000, from March through October, volunteers logged more than 1,000 hours at the 296-acre Johnston Mill Nature Preserve north of Chapel Hill. At 14 workdays—some open to the public, others set up with businesses, schools and civic organizations—volunteers marked, cut and cleared 3.5 miles of hiking trails, cleared hurricane downfall, transplanted significant vegetation, and installed waterbars, steps and low bridges, not to mention constructing a footbridge spanning 45 feet over Old Field Creek.

The Old Field Creek bridge is the single biggest stewardship project ever undertaken by TLC, and volunteers shouldered most of the load, literally and figuratively. Mark Pearson, P.E., an engineer with Earth Tech of Raleigh, designed the bridge. Tripp Renn, a general contractor, headed up the construction teams. And scores of other volunteers pitched in. They cut and carried 5,000 board-feet of lumber one-third of a mile to the worksite. They carried six, 500-pound steel I-beams 800 feet to the worksite. They helped out while a mixing truck pumped concrete 800 feet for the bridge footings. And 20 of them sweated for 6 hours to put all those pieces together and build a bridge in the middle of the woods—a bridge that represents the dedication of all TLC volunteers.

"The bridge is a true testament to what our volunteers contribute," Stewardship Coordinator Banks Dixon said. "A lot of volunteers do more for TLC than building a bridge, but the bridge is something tangible, you can see it, you can touch it, you can walk across it. That bridge wouldn't be there without our volunteers."