June 26, 2016 the Sunshine Trail renovation was completed and dedicated.  The San Joaquin Historical Museum received a grant and updated the trail.  

 Sunshine Trail for the Blind

The Sunshine Trail at Micke Grove Park south of Lodi, CA has been our ongoing project for over 30 years. The Sunshine Trail at Micke Grove Park demonstrates the different types of vegetation and wilderness in Northern California. The trail is geared to the  visually impaired, with sounds and narrations coming from a speaker system as well as untrimmed trail edges so people can feel the different plants of the area. Two of our longtime members Helen Trethewey and Jean Beckman have contributed countless hours to continuing this project. The trail has recently been adopted by the Lions Club and Trees Lodi.


Visit thia website for more information.                                                                              

www.sanjoaquinhistory.org


SI Lodi donated at Bench in 2017 which was placed at the entrance to The Sunshine Trail


Bev Lacy, Barbara Warburton and President Terri Lee rest on the new bench.
To see a Video of the presentation go to:
https://www.facebook.com/terri.lee.9484/videos/1810172032344104

David Stuart director of the Micke Grove Historical Society and Museum was guest speaker at June 2017 Soroptimist meeting.

 

Press Release Sunshine Trail donation

Submitted by Bev Lacy

Soroptimist International of Lodi  donates bench for Sunshine Trail Garden for the Blind at Micke Grove.

 

            David Stuart director of the Micke Grove Historical Society and Museum was guest speaker at a recent Soroptimist meeting.  SI Lodi presented a check of $2,000 at the meeting for a bench at the newly renovated Sunshine Trail Garden for the Blind.  

            David presented history of the park and the described recent renovations of the Sunshine Trail Garden for the Blind and the Delta Waterpath.  

            The Sunshine Trail is a living exhibition of native plants which was originally envisioned by the Dora Johnson founding director of the San Joaquin Historical Society in 1971. Soroptimist International of Lodi pledged to develop the exhibition with emphasis on enjoyment by those with impaired vision. The trail demonstrates the different types of vegetation and wilderness in Northern California. Ground was broken on May 25th 1977 and the Sunshine Trail  was dedicated on May 22nd 1983.  Since its inception, thousands of dollars have been raised by Soroptimist International of Lodi, in addition to many hours in donations of labor and materials to build and improve the Sunshine Trail Garden for the Blind. 

            David Stuart became director of the Historical Society in 2007.  A new partnership was formed with Tree Lodi and the Lodi Lions Club in 2008. These organizations participated in rehabilitation of the Trail.

            The recent renovations at Micke Grove park and the Sunshine Trail have been further updated and improved with a grant that was awarded to the SJ Historical Society by the Water Bond Act of 2006.  David shared what has been accomplished with this grant money and ADA updates.  Members were invited to visit the trail to enjoy the improvements.


In 2016 the San Joaquin Historical Museum had a rededication of The Sunshine Trail
Soroptimists Bev Lacy and Ora Hoover participated in the Ribbon Cutting.

Waterfall at Sunshine Trail


SI Lodi members pose by the covered bridge 

 Message from David Stuart, Museum director at Micke Grove, regarding future plans for the trail.

Good to hear from you, Bev.  I appreciate the opportunity to keep Soroptimists posted.  Please have no worries that the Sunshine Trail might be removed.  In September the Historical Society Board of Trustees adopted a new Facilities Master Plan for the foreseeable future and it certainly includes the Sunshine Trail. 

The grant we received in 2008 from Lodi Lions and the support of Tree Lodi was just the start.  Our maintenance staff has continued to improve the Sunshine Trail.  I am right now in the process of preparing a grant proposal for $25,000 to better connect the Sunshine Trail to the expanded Museum campus and the 1847 Weber cottage and surrounding pond just north of the Sunshine Trail.   

Here is the section of that draft proposal that addresses additional plans and projects:  

“The Historical Society has recently established a partnership with the San Joaquin Master Gardeners program.  We anticipate that Master Gardeners will assist with the continuing rehabilitation and improvement of the Sunshine Trail living exhibition

We also anticipate a continued partnership with Tree Lodi and their efforts to inform the public—and especially youth—about the benefits and care of trees.  The Historical Society will work with Tree Lodi to develop additional media (audio messages, graphics-and-text panels, flyers, brochures, etc.) that will be incorporated into the Sunshine Trail living exhibition.  Programs for schoolchildren may also be jointly developed.

The Historical Society will apply in the spring of 2010 for a major grant to improve the Sunshine Trail living exhibition.  The application to the California Department of Parks and Recreation for funding under the Nature Education Facilities Program is expected to include:

  • Upgrading the audio messages to include multiple messages at each station (perhaps a message on the life zone, its use by Native peoples, its historical uses, the benefit and care of trees, and other topics at each station)

  • Plant additional specimen plants

  • Add interpretive panels with graphics and text

  • Add benches throughout the trail

 Jean Beckman and Helen Trethewey 

Two of our longtime members Helen Trethewey and Jean Beckman have contributed countless hours to continuing this project.

The Sunshine Trail at Micke Grove Park south of Lodi, CA has been our ongoing project for over 30 years. The Sunshine Trail at Micke Grove Park demonstrates the different types of vegetation and wilderness in Northern California. The trail is geared to the  visually impaired, with sounds and narrations coming from a speaker system as well as untrimmed trail edges so people can feel the different plants of the area.  The trail has recently been adopted by the Lions Club and Trees Lodi.

Sunshine Trail Endowment.pdf Sunshine Trail Endowment.pdf
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