A legacy bridge project by the Guelph Hiking Trail Club is nearly complete.
The Crane Park community bridge was put in place on the installed abutments Monday, bringing residents one step closer to enjoying the club's 50th anniversary legacy project near Dovercliffe Road.
"I think the community is going to be really happy with it," said GHTC president John Fisher. "It just extends the park, and extends the use, really, through four seasons. It's going to be very satisfying to see that."
The bridge connects the off-leash dog park with city property at the south end of the park.
"A lot of people come into Crane Park from Niska Road," he said.
"They can come through there, but in the winter time, it's harder for them because the streams there and it gets snowy (and) icy. What this bridge is going to do is give the ability to formalize some trails on that south side of the river."
Fisher said it's all part of a bigger vision for the area, saying the bridge gives them a "gateway" to the forested area south of the park, owned by the Grand River Conservation Area.
"This is just another piece, another little hurdle that is overcome in giving ultimate access to that whole property there," he said.
"Hopefully there will be a formal trail system all the way along the river, all the way out to Niska Road, and then you'd be able to join up on the other side of the river to our trails along the Speed River, in terms of loop trails and stuff."
Fisher said the club budgeted about $65,000 for the bridge, and are "just about there" in that regard.
Donations to the project are still welcome online.
There is still some work to be done on the property before the bridge is considered safe to use.
Fisher said the hope is to have that work done in the next month, and have a community grand opening in the spring.
And once that's all done, the club has its eye on another bridge as its next big project.
The club is looking to have a heritage wooden trestle bridge, located on a trail off Stone Road, repaired and repurposed for walking and cycling traffic.
"We've been working on that project over the last 18 months. We've been working with Infrastructure Ontario," Fisher said. "We're hoping that that could bear some fruit sometime within the next six months."
