New Trail Bridge

By Jessica Chapin

February 29, 2008

Bay County, FL -- Workers and volunteers are camping out and putting their hands together to build more than a bridge across the Econfina Creek on one Florida trail.

It's a project that takes dedication and a rugged living place for several weeks. Members of the Florida Trail Association, students from the Student Conservation Association, and Wilderness Rangers have been living in the woods next to their worksite day and night.

"We utilize the project as a way of empowering people to pull together to communicate," said U.S Forest Service Wilderness Ranger Ian Barlow, "We're using bridges to build bridges between youth and communities and non-profit associations... pull people together to look at some of the issues that we're dealing with today."

Workers will assemble the new Fender Bridge on a higher elevation to avoid flooding and meet federal standards. The bridge will keep its name, stemming from an unusual trail-side artifact that trail workers believe to be part of an old 1930's truck.

It's just one of the stories students with the Conservation Association Corp will take with them after their 3-months working on various Florida trail projects.

"We faced some challenging weather, we had a rainstorm come last weekend," said one student, Elizabeth Whitley, "but it turned out alright, we had a good time hanging out in our food tent."

"It's good being out, working with your hands as opposed to being in a classroom," said Allison Bates, "it's a nice break."

Trail workers say they hope the new bridge will bring more out to enjoy the natural beauty of Florida's 1,400 miles of trails.

"A lot of folks in Panama City don't even realize the trail is up here," said Trail Coordinator Ron Peterson, "and we have this amazing opportunity to get out in the woods and see some beautiful trail."

After 2 years of planning and design before construction, the bridge is expected to be finished in 2-3 weeks.

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