Some volunteer stories begin with a meeting. Ryan Watson’s began with a chainsaw, a YouTube education, and a deep belief that abandoned railroad corridors should not be forgotten.

For Ryan, the work was never just about clearing trees or cutting brush. He cared about preserving railroad corridors and the history they carry. The rails-to-trails movement gave that belief a practical purpose: protect the corridor, honor its past, and help turn it into something useful for the future.

His commitment to safe connectivity is also personal. In August 2002, Ryan lost a middle school friend, Hector Huerta Jr., who died in ninth grade while skateboarding on Bridgeport Road. That loss shaped Ryan’s belief that people need safe ways to move through their communities when they are not driving. Trails matter, but so do the connections beyond the trail: the roads, crossings, neighborhoods, and routes people rely on every day.

Love Where You Are + Rock the Trail:

This weekend was a powerful reminder that community care does not have to be complicated. Sometimes it looks like showing up with gloves, grabbing a trash bag, clearing a trail, pulling weeds, moving branches, painting rocks, cheering each other on, and choosing to love the place we call home.

Love Where You Are brought neighbors, businesses, schools, churches, civic leaders, and community groups together across the west side of Indianapolis for a shared goal: take a little time to care for our community.

And wow, did people show up.

From neighborhood cleanups to trail work, from park care to family-friendly activities, the day reflected what is possible when people stop waiting for “someone else” and decide to be part of the solution.