The Guelph Hiking Trail Club has been making a lot of waves in the last few years to promote the expansion, and expanded use, of Guelph’s various routes and trails. You may be interested to know though that this has been a 50-year endeavour. This past weekend, the Guelph Hiking Trail Club celebrated the end of its first half-century with a party at the Arboretum, and community project they’d like some help with.

“The Club was founded in the early 1970’s by Guelph residents who were members of the Bruce Trail Association who wanted to create a Sidetrail from Guelph to the Bruce Trail in Limehouse,” read a release from the club. “Since then the Club’s network has expanded to over 85 kms and includes the Speed River Trail to Cambridge and The Kissing Bridge Trail (part of the Guelph to Goderich Trail). The Club has close to 500 members and offers hiking and trail maintenance activities.”

So what is the Hiking Trail giving itself for its birthday? They’re following up on last year’s successful efforts to raise funds and install the Gosling Bridge by dedicating their efforts to a new bridge over the river at Crane Park. Abutments are being installed now and the bridge is planned to be installed before year end pending a successful campaign.

“It is a great example of a Community-led, City-supported Project that gives communities more connection to their neighborhoods,” read the press release. “This project is now at the stage where the abutments are being installed and the funding campaign is about to start in Ernest. We expect to have the bridge installed before year end.”

The Guelph Hiking Trail Club is trying to to raise $40,000 to build the 8-foot-by-25-foot Eagle steel bridge for the trail through Crane Park, which is just west of Dovercliffe Road. The funds will cover the cost of permitting, planning approvals, fundraising, contractor selection and management. The club hopes to have the bridge completed by the end of the year.

If you would like to learn more about the project or donate to the cause, you can visit the Guelph Hiking Trail Club on their website, phone them at 226-962-1832, or by scanning the QR code on the poster below.

Picture provided by Guelph Hiking Trail Club. In the image are members of the current executive, from left to right: Frank Schoenhart, Leilan Baxter, Bill Mungall, Lisa Slater, John Fisher, Sandra Morrill, and Mike Curtis.