Volunteers Raise Funds and Bridge to Reopen Stanford Trail

On October 18, 2008 a work group of 25 Cuyahoga Valley Trails Council (CVTC) volunteers carried, assembled, and installed the pedestrian bridge on Stanford Trail in Boston Township.  CVTC is a non-profit volunteer group that represents four trail user groups in Cuyahoga Valley National Park: hikers, bicyclists, equestrians, and cross-country skiers. CVTC donated over $15,000 to purchase a 35’ x 4’ fiberglass pedestrian bridge to replace a washed out bridge on the Stanford Trail. The Stanford Trail is reopened after a 6 month closure due to flooding.

“Our thanks and gratitude goes out to this outstanding group for their donation of the bridge, their hard work, enthusiasm, and dedication to Cuyahoga Valley National Park,” said John P. Debo, Jr., Superintendent, CVNP.

 â€œThis bridge project is part of our mission to improve the trails system in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and to provide better recreational opportunities for the public. The Cuyahoga Valley Trails Council is very satisfied to have had the chance to contribute financially in this way,” said David Daams, President CVTC.

CVTC is dedicated to building and maintaining trails in the Cuyahoga Valley since 1985. Since its founding, CVTC has assisted the national park and carries out the development of the planned network of over 95 miles of trails. The group holds monthly volunteer trail work sessions, helps coordinate the Adopt-A-Trail program, works on special events like RiverDay and National Public Lands Day, trains new volunteers, and encourages stewardship of the trail system. CVTC recently published the 3^rd Edition Trail Guide for Cuyahoga Valley National Park. For more information on volunteering with CVTC visit www.cvtrailscouncil.org.

CVNP encompasses 33,000 acres along the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland and Akron. Managed by the National Park Service, CVNP combines cultural, historical, recreational, and natural activities in one setting. For more information about the park, visit www.nps.gov/cuva/ or www.dayinthevalley.com or call (216) 524-1497 or (800) 445-9667.

-NPS-