Land trust, trail association say community support is needed for planned walkway linking community and nature; project partners plan to acknowledge donors with long-lasting recognition
The project partners working to create a pedestrian walkway to the Bayfield River Flats Nature Area say community support is needed to make it happen. The project team thanks the entire community for all donations of any size. They also want to provide acknowledgement and permanent recognition for donors making donations of $500 or more.
It will cost $52,000 to complete a walkway, under the Highway 21 bridge, linking people to the natural area on the other side. This way, people won’t need to walk across the busy highway to reach the Bayfield River Flats.
Those who donate $500 or more are eligible to receive (while supplies last) a unique, one-of-a-kind tote bag, hand-made by Bayfield’s Helen Varekamp. Those who donate $1,000 or more will receive a tote bag and lasting recognition on a sponsor acknowledgement board. There is also an opportunity, on the In Memory section of the donor list board, to leave a legacy in memory of loved ones through a $1,000 donation in support of the project. Those who donate $5,000 or more to the walkway will receive a tote bag, sponsor board recognition, and their name (engraved or on a name plate) on armourstone.
Helen Varekamp is a Bayfield resident and community volunteer. She was part of the community fundraising team, of the Bayfield River Valley Trail Association, that helped to mobilize community support in order to purchase the 4.75-acre River Flats property which is now preserved permanently by the land trust.
Helen has created 65 original hand-crafted tote bags which she is donating to the fundraising campaign for a new pedestrian walkway at Bayfield River Flats. The tote bags are made from up-cycled fabrics and every tote bag is unique.
“I am delighted to donate these tote bags to this project, as the Bayfield River Flats Natural Area is one of the most precious gems right in the middle of our village,” she said. “The walkway will make it easier for many of our residents to connect with Mother Nature on a daily basis.”
Donors who donate $500 or more to the walkway campaign are eligible to receive one of the tote bags while quantities last.
“Sewing is my passion,” Helen said. During the COVID-19 pandemic “I got creative doing some sewing as fundraisers for several community organizations with which I have been involved. I love putting emphasis on up-cycling and keeping unwanted and leftover materials out of the landfill. Now that one-time-use shopping bags are being discouraged, it only made sense to make re-usable, sturdy tote bags that make a great fashion statement at the same time.”
The tote bags will be provided (while supplies last) to eligible donors on the Bayfield River Flats Walkway fundraising evening, at Bayfield Town Hall, on Wednesday, December 13, 2023 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Bayfield River Valley Trail Association (BRVTA) is leading the community fundraising campaign, for the Bayfield River Flats Natural Area Walkway, on behalf of the Huron Tract Land Trust Conservancy (HTLTC). The land trust owns and permanently protects the Bayfield River Flats Natural Area as habitat for wildlife and as a place for people to enjoy recreation and nature appreciation.
“We would like to thank all our donors,” said Roger Lewington, HTLTC Past Chair. “We also want to find a way to say thank you to our donors and to acknowledge the gift the donors in our community are making and the legacy they are leaving,” he said. “I would also like to thank Helen for the donation of her talent and artistry – these one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted tote bags are a wonderful way to say ‘Thank you’ to donors generously making donations of $500 or more to this community project.”
Visit the Huron Tract Land Trust Conservancy website and Bayfield River Valley Trail Association website to find out more.
The new walkway will connect to an existing under-the-bridge walkway at the Bayfield River Flats site. This new feature will make it safer and easier for people to reach and enjoy this special riverbank nature area without having to walk across the highway.
If you would like to learn more about donor recognition opportunities to acknowledge your support for this needed community project, please contact a member of the fundraising team.
To learn more, or to donate, you are invited to visit the Bayfield River Flats web page or to call 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610.