0325-GCG-FoothillsConservancy_ESG25_12-18 (2) - Flipbook - Page 26
Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina
Experiencing
the Land
The Sensory Trail Experience Program (STEP) continues
to take meaningful shape, guided by a vision to
create a place for people of all abilities to connect
with nature in ways that feel welcoming and truly
immersive. The program is creating spaces within
Oak Hill Community Park and Forest that offer multiple
ways to be in relationship with the land: through quiet
The walking trail is situated within and around 8.5
acres of fallow 昀椀eld that our stewardship team is
converting into a Piedmont prairie—one of the rarest
native ecosystems in North Carolina. Much of the
昀椀eld is currently dominated by aggressive plants
that crowd out native grasses and wild昀氀owers. This
fall, FCNC began careful, targeted, invasive removal
in partnership with EcoForesters and Wildbud
Natives, 昀椀rms that specialize in creating healthy
meadows, wetlands, and grasslands. A series of
controlled, aquatic-safe treatments applied in low
observation, playful exploration, curiosity, or rest.
concentrations will prepare the soil for the 昀椀rst round
This year marked the opening of an accessible
waves of grasses, wild昀氀owers, insects, and pollinators
walking trail that winds gently through the meadow
and orchard areas of the park. The four-foot wide,
gently graded, packed-gravel path provides a
smooth route for visitors who walk or utilize devices
such as strollers or wheelchairs and encourages
them to move at a pace that feels right. Benches
will be placed along the trail in the coming year to
provide spaces for rest and re昀氀ection.
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of prairie seeding in early summer 2026. Over time,
will reshape the 昀椀eld into a thriving ecosystem.
While the trail can be enjoyed today, the next phase
of STEP will make Oak Hill Community Park and Forest
even more interactive. Installation of sensory stations,
designed by Equinox Environmental, will begin in
spring 2026. These stations will encourage visitors to
engage with their surroundings through touch, scent,
sound, and movement.
