Lost River Cave Announces Scarecrow Trail Winners
Local organizations earned top honors for displays that raised funds for conservation efforts in Bowling Green.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Landscaping
Live Poll
Do you believe local community events are effective ways to support public nature trails?
Lost River Cave has announced the winners of its 15th annual Scarecrow Trail, which featured nearly 90 community-built displays across a one-mile nature path. The event invited local organizations to create themed scarecrows to support park operations and trail conservation.
Why it matters
The annual trail event raises critical funding for local park maintenance and conservation projects through community participation. Residents supported the grounds by voting with donations of $1, $5, or $10, directly influencing the final competition results.
The competition included 10 winning organizations chosen from nearly 90 entries along the one-mile trail. Winners were determined through a combination of free daily ballots and donations of $1, $5, or $10.
The players
Lost River Cave
A Bowling Green nature site and non-profit organization that manages local trail conservation and public environmental education.
Greystone Pet Hospital
A local veterinary service provider that took first place in the People's Choice division of the trail competition.
Builders by Design
A local construction and design firm that earned second place for their display entry.
Dreamscape Landscape Services
A local landscaping company that secured third place in the community event.
The details
Local organizations constructed nearly 90 unique scarecrows to line the one-mile trail at the park. The public determined the top three winners through voting methods that included both free ballots and financial contributions. The Lost River Cave staff further recognized seven additional entries with commemorative awards to celebrate the diversity of the community-built displays.
Timeline
Winners were announced on October 31, 2026.
The Home Front
This event reflects the ongoing reliance on community-driven seasonal programming to sustain regional nature trails and public parks. Such initiatives provide a recurring funding stream that supports the maintenance and expansion of local outdoor infrastructure.
If you enjoy participating in local outdoor initiatives, keep an eye on the park's calendar for similar community voting events that support area conservation. Consider visiting the one-mile trail during seasonal changes to see how community contributions help keep the grounds maintained.
The takeaway
The Scarecrow Trail serves as a practical model for how public engagement can directly fund the upkeep of regional nature assets. Residents can support these efforts in future years by participating in the donation-based voting process held at the site.
Further reading
Learn more about local environmental stewardship on the Landscaping page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wbko.
Live Poll
Do you believe local community events are effective ways to support public nature trails?
