Lions and Optimists Clean Up Braille Trail

CUMMING, GA – On Saturday, February 20th, the Forsyth County Lions Club and Forsyth-Cumming Optimist Club joined forces to clean up the Braille Trail at Fowler Park.

Over 20 volunteers from both clubs and the community spread a fresh cover of mulch over the trail, cleaned the signs, and did maintenance on the two (2) butterfly gardens that contain native plants for attracting pollinators.

Optimist Club president Harold Mullins said, “It was a great pleasure and a lot of fun working alongside the Forsyth County Lions Club to help restore their Braille Trail. Nothing is more rewarding than serving with other committed individuals and organizations whose goals are to make our community a better place to live. I encourage everyone to not miss out on the joy. Find a place to volunteer and the Lions Club and the Optimist Club are great places to be blessed, have fun, and make a difference. The smile of a child makes it all worthwhile.”

Lions Club president Jon Casteel said, “My heart was full as I paused and stood back watching a great group of people from all over working as a team to maintain our Braille Trail. Working together to serve our community is what Lions do.”

Kelly Mill Elementary School teacher Laura Fedorchuk, whose students originally created the butterfly gardens and still maintains them, said, “It was a beautiful day to work together to give back to our community. We have loved creating this area for all pollinators including honeybees and butterflies. We have a special place in our hearts for our monarch butterflies to try to increase their declining population. Kelly Mill Elementary teaches our students to be world changers and by upkeeping this area we are doing just that.”

The Braille Trail at Fowler Park was built by the Forsyth County Lions Club in 2018 as a Lions Clubs International Centennial Legacy Project. It is a 375-foot (114 m) long by 6-foot (2 m) wide trail that includes several signs in English and Braille along with the butterfly gardens. The trail is located just off the path leading from the park to the Big Creek Greenway and all are welcome to visit.

The Forsyth-Cumming Optimist Club is a local chapter of Optimist International, a worldwide volunteer organization whose members work each day to make the future brighter by bringing out the best in children, in their communities, and in themselves. Since 1976, the club has focused on the youth of Cumming and Forsyth County. For more information, please visit www.fcoptimists.org.

The Forsyth County Lions Club is a local chapter of Lions Clubs International, the world’s largest service organization dedicated to meeting humanitarian needs in over 200 countries. Since 1961, the club has provided vision and hearing assistance to low-income uninsured individuals in addition to other humanitarian services as needed. For more information, please visit www.ForsythCountyLions.org.