GCC receives grant to restore old trail

IRONWOOD — Gogebic Community College is working to rebuild bridges on an old trail that runs from the base of Mount Zion north to Slade Road.

The trail is a little more than a mile long and was created by college employees in 1981. The bridges were compromised by flooding in 2016 and are “crucial to the integrity of the trail,” according to a press release.

“By restoring the two bridges which run over Welch Creek, we are promoting personal enrichment and wellness within our community,” said GCC President Dr. George McNulty in the release.

The Gogebic Range Health Foundation awarded the college a grant of $12,250 to help with the project. The project aligned with the foundation’s priorities of expanding pedestrian trails, the release said.

GRHF director Andrea Newby said the foundation’s mission is to advance health across the Gogebic Range. She said that by providing grants the foundation is able to further projects that create spaces for people to access health and make healthy choices.

“The GCC project is a piece of the puzzle to create an interconnected pedestrian trail system throughout the Gogebic Range,” said Newby. “The result of a community wide trail system is improved health across all people, an improved economy and a shared community value for health and wellness. ... GCC is taking great steps in implementing programs that result in positive health outcomes and we look forward to seeing their progress.”

McNulty said the project creates another reason for people to visit “our amazing region.” Once the bridges have been restored, the trail loop will be available to GCC students and employees, as well as community members and visitors year-round for hiking, biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

—Charity Smith