Engineering firm B. M. Ross and Associates Limited donates $5,000 and services to new pedestrian walkway to Bayfield River Flats Natural Area
Project partners say donation from B. M. Ross and Associates will help move community closer to creating pedestrian walkway so people can walk from Bayfield to nature area without having to walk across highway
An engineering firm in Goderich is helping the Bayfield and area community to move closer to the dream of a pedestrian walkway to the Bayfield River Flats Natural Area.
B. M. Ross and Associates Limited is donating $5,000 to the walkway fundraising campaign. The firm is also helping the walkway project partners with preparation of a quotation package for contractors and will help with periodic inspections while the walkway is being constructed.
The Bayfield River Valley Trail Association (BRVTA) is leading a fundraising campaign on behalf of the Huron Tract Land Trust Conservancy (HTLTC). The Land Trust owns and permanently preserves the Bayfield River Flats Natural Area. The Bayfield River Flats is an important area for recreation and for species habitat.
Roger Lewington is Past Chair of HTLTC. He said the generous donation from B. M. Ross will go a long way towards moving the walkway project forward.
“The trail association and the Land Trust are so appreciative of this generous support from B. M. Ross for both a financial contribution as well as critical engineering services,” he said. “This is a big step forward and we hope this community-minded donation will inspire others to support this project and help us to move closer to our goal.”
Dale Erb is President with B. M. Ross and Associates Limited, of Goderich.
“B. M. Ross and Associates Limited is pleased to support the community’s effort to create a new pedestrian walkway to the Bayfield River Flats Natural Area,” he said. “This project reflects our company’s commitment to nature and active outdoor recreation. We look forward to our continued involvement with this exciting endeavour.”
The project partners say the new walkway will ‘connect the community with nature.’ They say the walkway will complete the Bayfield River Flats project which began in 2017. At that time, the trail association led a successful community fundraising campaign that raised more than $70,000 with the support of more than 200 individual donors. That campaign made it possible to purchase the nature area and donate it to the land trust for permanent preservation.
A ‘Walkway to the Finish Line’ evening took place at Bayfield Town Hall on Wednesday, December 13, 2023 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. It was a casual evening to celebrate the project and to raise funds for the walkway.
To donate to the pedestrian walkway, or to find out more, visit the Bayfield River Flats Natural Area web page.
Visit the Land Trust website and the Bayfield River Valley Trail Association website to learn more.
(PLEASE NOTE: The actual 2024 cost of construction of the pedestrian walkway is about $70,000. The amazing and generous local community has contributed $65,000 so far towards the project. Construction is beginning in spring of 2024 but we still need to raise another $5,000 to cover the cost of this project. Thank you for considering a donation).