by Matt Konkle
Managing Editor
Sugar Creek Loop in eastern Oklahoma, and its 90-plus trail miles, sits just far enough away from everything to be a nice day trip while still providing a nice sense of exploration.
With a little bit of everything, like dirt and gravel roads, hill climbs, water crossing, loose sandy sections and a few paved areas to connect everything together, the whole place is great for new overlanders, and offroaders, to gain some skill and confidence.
It is also a place, unfortunately, where things can go to ‘disappear’ like excess trash, tires, lawn furniture, cans, bottles and takeout containers.
So recently 11 volunteers, backed with a Quadratec 50-for-50 Trail Improvement Grant, headed out to Sugar Creek Loop to perform some trail cleanup maintenance.
In all, these volunteers removed 600 pounds of trash and freshened up 75 trail miles over the course of the day.
“Tread Lightly! appreciates the efforts of local volunteer groups all over the country that make these projects come to life, said Tread Lightly!’s Assistant Director Danielle Fowles-McNiven. “Dedicated volunteers are the lifeblood of conservation, and we are so happy to have supported the Sugar Creek Loop through the generous funding of Quadratec.”
This Oklahoma Sugar Loop cleanup project was the 26th of 50 trail and public land restoration events Quadratec will help sponsor in each state by April 2024.
So far through its supported projects, the 50-for-50 Stewardship Grant has accumulated 5,650 volunteer hours with a total value of $168,633, pulled away 95,785 pounds of trash and improved 704 miles of trail.
Quadratec’s ’50-for-50’ stewardship grant fund helps project managers pay for equipment, fees, volunteer support, food, fuel, signage and other miscellaneous costs.
Quadratec has been a supporting partner of Tread Lightly! for more than 20 years, and a longtime fundraiser for Tread Lightly!’s stewardship programs. The company has also promoted Tread Lightly! and other trail restoration efforts through its Quadratec Cares ‘Energize the Environment’ program.
Clubs and individuals are required to be active, supporting members of Tread Lightly! to be eligible to apply for ’50-for-50’ grant funding. To learn more about the Quadratec ’50-for-50 program, visit Quadratec's 50 for 50 Trails Stewardship Grant Initiative.
Recommended Reading:
Quadratec, Tread Lightly! ’50-For-50’ Public Land Cleanup — Maggie Valley, North Carolina
Quadratec's 50 State, 50 Trail Stewardship Initiative Reaches Halfway Mark
