GROW Trail at Lake Tomahawk

The Friends of the Black Mountain Library, in partnership with the Black Mountain Greenways and Trails Committee, the Black Mountain Beautification Committee, the Black Mountain-Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce, and the Arbor House Bed and Breakfast is excited to announce that the Greenways Read Out-loud Walking Trail (GROW) project at Lake Tomahawk is entering its active fundraising and volunteer-seeking phase with installation and grand opening anticipated for early summer.

The GROW Trail is a story trail – a fun, educational activity that will place the pages from a regional children’s book along the trail around Lake Tomahawk. 

Thanks to a generous donation by Town residents, Robin and Tom Stiles, the project is ready to begin construction and placement around Lake Tomahawk of the wooden ‘standards’ which will contain the storybook pages that will be permanently printed on a composite material that is weatherproof and

vandal resistant. The panel pages will be interchangeable allowing a rotation of regionally authored books that will appeal to children from pre-K to fifth grade. 

To Financially Support the GROW Trail Project

While the Stiles’ generosity, given in memory of their son, Greg, and his love of the outdoors, will enable this critical first phase and first-book installation to proceed, additional donations and sponsorships are needed and actively sought for ongoing maintenance of the trail standards and stations and panel printing for additional books.

Please consider donating to this project by clicking on the button below:

Financial Support Questions? Contact Melisa Pressley by clicking the button below:

To Volunteer Time and Talent to the GROW Trail Project

Volunteers with simple woodworking talents and willingness to help ‘dig and place’ the dozen or so standards and stations in designated spots on the existing footpath around the lake are needed. All volunteer times will be between 11 am and 3 pm. As little or as much time offered (one hour or every day) will be gratefully accepted.

Sign up to volunteer using the button below:

Volunteer Questions? Contact Steve and Sally Cochran at 828-545-1467 (Phone and Text) or via email by clicking the button below: