Trail Restoration Project in Van Cortlandt Park

As an Assistant Crew Leader with the Student Conservation Association, I worked on the restoration of a severely eroded trail in Van Cortlandt Park, supporting both environmental resilience and community access to urban green space. Following two weeks of intensive training in erosion assessment, stormwater management, and trail restoration techniques, I helped lead a six-week field project focused on stabilizing degraded trail segments and mitigating future erosion. I contributed to site assessments that evaluated runoff patterns and failure points, and co-led a crew of high school students in implementing erosion control structures such as water bars and check steps. Through this work, I gained hands-on experience at the intersection of ecology, infrastructure, and community engagement, reinforcing my belief that sustainable urban environments depend on thoughtfully designed and well-maintained natural systems.