Fundraising underway for permanent pathway bridge at Chapman Mills Conservation Area.

The Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation (RVCF) and our community is participating in the 2012 Molson Community Cheer Contest and needs your vote to build a permanent pathway connection in the Chapman Mills Conservation Area.

The beautiful Chapman Mills Conservation Area on the Rideau River in southern Ottawa is the gateway leading to a 12 km network of lovely forest trails, riverside boardwalks and wildflower/wetland meadows teeming with life.

Current use of the trails is limited to warmer weather months due to the need to remove a floating sectional bridge which provides a key connection across an inlet of the Rideau River.  The bridge must be removed in the fall and re-installed each spring due to ice damage.

The Community Cheer Contest could bring $50,000 towards building a permanent bridge allowing the trail to be open year round.

This new, safe and secure link eliminates the environmental problems of the old bridge, avoids the dangerous temptation for people to try and cross the ice on foot, and opens up a whole new world of close-to-home active outdoor recreation facilities.  The RVCF is currently looking at fundraising opportunities to finance this essential project.

The RVCF has submitted this project as an entry in the Molson Community Cheer Contest, an online voting contest that will award $50,000 to the winning entry.  The chosen project will be selected on a number of criteria including the overall number of votes received up until February 10, 2012.

Please help cheer us on with your online vote for a Permanent Pathway Bridge at Chapman Mills by visiting www.stevedesroches.caand clicking on the direct link to the RVCF profile on the Community Cheer website.  You can also visit the website athttp://www.ourcommunitycheer.com.