September 28, 2026 Post by : Editorial Outdoors

When the call went out for volunteers to help restore the overgrown Crestview Trail, organizers hoped for a dozen able hands. They got nearly forty. Neighbors showed up with gloves, loppers, trash bags, and thermoses of coffee, ready to spend a Saturday morning reclaiming a path that had slowly disappeared under blackberry vines and fallen branches.

The trail, which winds up the eastern slope behind the water tower, was once a favorite shortcut for kids walking to school and a quiet spot for evening strolls. Over the past several years, neglect and invasive growth had made it nearly impassable. That changed in a matter of hours.

A Surprise Discovery

Midway through the morning, a group working near the creek crossing stumbled on something unexpected: a small waterfall, maybe four feet tall, cascading over mossy rocks into a clear pool. Longtime residents said they remembered it from decades ago, but it had been completely hidden by brush. Volunteers cleared the area carefully, leaving the moss and ferns intact, and by noon the sound of falling water could be heard from the main path.

"I've lived here twenty years and never knew this was back here," one volunteer said, shaking her head. "My kids are going to love this."

The discovery has sparked interest in formally designating the trail as a neighborhood green space, though that would require coordination with the city parks department and likely a longer process.

What's Next for the Trail

Organizers are planning a second cleanup day later this month to finish clearing the upper section and install a few simple wayfinding markers. They're also hoping to build a small footbridge over the muddy patch near the halfway point, which has been a complaint for years. Donations of lumber or hardware would be welcome, and anyone with carpentry skills is especially encouraged to come out.

For now, the trail is walkable again, though sturdy shoes are recommended. If you head up this weekend, take a moment at the waterfall to appreciate what a few hours of collective effort can reveal. And if you see trash along the way, pick it up. The hilltop takes care of its own, one trail at a time.

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