Posted: Sep 11, 2013
By Meredith
Lorch
If you're seeking escape from the bustle of city life, look no
further than Lullwater Preserve – a hidden gem nestled in the
heart of Emory's campus. Well-used but never crowded, the park has
attracted students, faculty, and the Atlanta community for over
half a century. Lullwater has always been a favorite spot for
members of the Emory Cross Country teams in particular, who can be
found blazing the trails of Atlanta daily.
Filled with lush greenery and miles of wooded paths, the
preserve is the place to experience nature in Atlanta; however, a
summer of heavy rainfall left its trails in disrepair with
countless muddy ditches. Realizing the value of Lullwater to the
Atlanta community at large, over forty members of the Emory Men's
and Women's Cross Country teams gathered bright and early on Aug.
31 to lend a hand to The Friends of Lullwater Preserve in
addressing the situation.
Armed with wheelbarrows, bow rakes and landscape shears, the student athletes laid down over 18 cubic yards of mulch along the muddy trails in addition to cleaning up various overgrown paths. Together, the teammates turned a potentially laborious, time-intensive project into a bonding experience requiring just one sultry summer morning.
Women's team senior Co-Captain Emily Caesar expressed her excitement about the service project: "The trail restoration was a really was a great way to give back and it also allowed us to get to know our newest teammates in a different setting outside of our typical practices."
With an immense display of teamwork, the Eagles restored the
scenic Lullwater trails to their original condition for all to
enjoy. Upon completion of the project, Caesar also commented about
how gratifying it was to see such hard work pay off.
"All in all, I think the whole team felt a real sense of accomplishment after walking through the paths and seeing how much progress we really made."
Yet again, these Emory distance athletes have shown that grit
and a little sweat can go a long way.