SMITHFIELD – The Town Council has honored local trail-keeper Tom Gruczka for his hard work maintaining the places where people hike.
Barbara Rich, of the Land Trust, told the Town Council on June 16 that the trust received a grant of $4,000 from the private Leo S. Walsh Foundation of New York. Sandra Walsh, of the foundation, was impressed with the amount of work Gruczka does on the trails for the Land Trust, Conservation Commission, and town departments, said Rich, knowing how difficult the work he does is.
Without Gruczka and the regular grooming that he does, said Rich, everything “would be a mess,” with downed trees and other issues all over. He’s not a volunteer but a paid member of their crew who organizes Land Trust volunteers, she said, and he brings great value with what he does. She noted that he’s also a physical education teacher at Old County Road Elementary School.
Council President John Tassoni read a citation recognizing Gruczka for his good work maintaining Smithfield’s trails, including the selflessness and dedication recognized with the grant.
Gruczka, who will achieve 20 years as a local teacher next year, is a Smithfield native and North Smithfield resident. An avid mountain biker and former marathoner, he began riding in Deerfield Park during the pandemic and later started traveling other properties. After doing dozens of hours of volunteer work keeping the town’s 20 miles of trails clear, the Land Trust hired him in the fall of 2022. He has also built raised walkways on a number of trails.
Smithfield has about 20 miles worth of trails.
