The La Chua trail has grown and expanded in it's popularity with park visitors with each passing year. Regular visitors have seen many changes in the facilities at this trail, from establishing a new parking area, construction of the boardwalk, a paved walkway from the trailhead to the boardwalk (improving accessibility to all trail visitors), and now, renovation of the observation platform at the end of the trail. In early November, a "Renovation Team" of prairie staff and the inmates that work on many of the park construction projects, repaired and renovated the platform to improve it's stability and use for park visitors.

The platform will now be dedicated to Dominick Martino. The materials for this projects were purchased at the direction of former Florida Park Service Director, Mike Bullock, in recognition of Dominick's dedicated volunteer service at the prairie. A dedication ceremony will be held at the platform on Friday, December 31, 2010, at 10:30 am. Please join us in remembering an incredible individual who gave so much of himself to Paynes Prairie and to those who love this special place.