TORREYA DONATION
Panhandle Runners Club
donates $5,000 to restore
Torreya State Park trails
by Teresa Eubanks, CLJNews.com
BRISTOL, FL – Members of the Panhandle Runners Club came from Bay County to Torreya State Park Thursday morning to present a $5,000 donation to help with the repair and upkeep of the park’s 12 bridges.
Many runners’ groups from the surrounding area travel to the park in Liberty County to enjoy the scenic trails and views.
Panhandle Runners Club members Joe Edgecombe and Marty Kirkland have organized runs here in the past, including the annual Draggin’ Trail Runs in April.
“I ran the course which had constant change in elevation and hardly a stretch of easy straight running anywhere,” wrote runner Herb Kickback about taking part in an event at the park several years ago. “But, to run through cypress swamp, red clay bluffs along the river and pine woods upland in all the race is spectacular.”
He noted the beauty of the park during the April event, writing, “Torreya has the native flame azaleas, trilliums, Indian pinks, wild anise, ground orchids, big leaf magnolias, oak leaf hydrangea and the protected Torreya tree. Most were in bloom for the race.”
Edgecomb said the many of the park’s 12 wooden bridges are in need of repair. A frequent park visitor from the Destin area has suggested that once repairs are competed, the bridges should age named after the different species of birds found at the park.
Visit “Panhandle Runners Club” on facebook for more information about the group and their upcoming events.
Two of the damaged bridges are shown below.
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