Volunteers and local residents that give back for others to enjoy are a treasured commodity in any community. Many times they give more than they will ever receive in return and what they give will leave a lasting impression on those that come after them. Sadly, during 2022, National Trail lost two of these treasured friends.
Drew Hellmuth who passed away in February was one of those people. Drew was a member of the Springfield Conservancy District for more than 50 years. During this time he worked tirelessly to protect our beautiful Buck Creek, Veterans Park and Old Reid Park. Through his work, he created recreational and conservation opportunities for our residents and future generations. Drew was a part of endless projects and was the driving force behind the Clean Ohio Grant that allowed the Conservancy District to purchase the former Kirby Farm bordering the Beaver and Buck Creeks. This purchase not only allowed the Conservancy District to protect these precious waterways, but it also led to the development of the Kirby Preserve at Old Reid Park. Drew was a passionate and dedicated member of the Clark County community that gave of himself for others. Although we greatly miss Drew, we are grateful that we can see and enjoy the fruits of his labor now and into the future.
Earl Robinson, who passed away in April was a leader in every facet of his life. He was a kind and gentle soul that willingly gave of himself for others. Earl was an expert in the horticultural world and was generous in sharing his wisdom and knowledge to create beautiful landscapes, gardens and displays. Through his work with the Hollandia Garden Association and the Kiwanis Children’s Garden at the Snyder Park Gardens and Arboretum, he was able to design and create a one-of-a-kind children’s garden for people of all ages to visit, explore and enjoy. We encourage you to visit the park and appreciate the hard work and dedication in every detail of the raised bed gardens and surrounding areas. Through this work, Earl helped National Trail build and develop an integrated watering system for our flowering train. He worked with our staff to take a long abandoned train from an old playground set and turn it into a beautiful flowering train engine. This train is an attraction for people in our community to visit and learn about the many different flowers that Earl hand-picked for the smoke stack, cab, wheels and windows. Earl’s legacy will continue on through the many volunteers that he worked with and we will all be able to enjoy his work and creativity for years to come.
